Voters decide on contested positions

COLFAX — With approximately 20,000 ballots mailed out, ballots counted as of Tuesday, Nov, 7 the General Election results tabulated are out for contested positions so far.

Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison said that while results were posted the night of Tuesday, Nov. 7, they are unofficial until the official results are released Tuesday, Nov. 28 upon election certification.

Jamison said there are several other ballots to be picked up from towns, and those were not included in the Tuesday count, when the Gazette was at time of press.

“The results are unofficial, and could very much change as we continue to process ballots throughout these next two weeks,” Jamison said.

Results tabulated as of Tuesday night are as follows.

COLFAX

In Colfax running for City Council position 6 Dustin Guenthner and Sarah Sevedge are at a voter count of 208 votes counted. Guenthner is behind at 87 votes, 28.25%, with Sevedge in the lead with 221 votes, 71.75%.

Both Guenthner and Sevedge could not be reached at time of press.

ENDICOTT

Candidates for Endicott mayor are Nate Pierson running up against current Mayor Richard Dean Marty, who are at a voter count of 34 votes total, with Marty in the lead with 94.12% of the vote, and Pierson at 2.94% with one vote.

Marty could not be reached at time of press.

Pierson said he wishes the best to the winner. “I sure hope the town doesn’t lose anymore population or services due to the ongoing decline,” he said.

Don Adsitt and Debbie Wolfe running Town Council Position 1 are at a voter count of 36 votes at time of press, with Wolfe in the lead at 30, 83.33%, and Adsitt at 6 votes, 16.67%.

Both Wolfe and Adsitt could not be reached at time of press.

Running for Town Council Position 3, Nick Nicora and Megan Webster are at a voter count of 33 at time of press, Nicora is in the lead at 18 votes, 54.55% with Webster at 14, 42.42%. Both could not be reached at time of press.

Tom Webster and Destiny Corean, running for Town Council Position 5 are at a voter count of 33, Corean in the lead at 28 votes, 84.85%, and Webster at 4 votes, 12.2%.

Corean was not available to comment at time of press, and Webster could not be reached at time of press.

PALOUSE

Running for Palouse Mayor Tim Sievers and April Borden are at a voter count of 204 votes counted. Sievers in the lead at 142 votes, 69.61%, and Borden at 61 votes, 29.9%. There was one write-in at time of press.

Borden could not be reached at time of press.

Sievers said things look encouraging.” You never know until you know,” he said, noting it takes a while to get everything counted. “If things hold up the way they are, I look forward to continuing serving the town of Palouse through the next four years.”

PULLMAN

Candidates running for Pullman Mayor are Francis Benjamin who is in the lead at 972 votes, 53.38% out of 1,821 counted. Benjamin could not be reached at time of press.

Running against Benjamin, Debra McNeil is at a voter count of 838, 46.02% at time of press.

“We are only 124 votes behind so far, and we are so excited about the next couple of counts,” McNeill said, noting that with the reissued ballots it might take a while to count. “We’re just looking forward to moving ahead. We’re excited how we’ve dome as a campaign crew and we’re ready to watch the numbers grow.’

There were 11 write-ins, 0.6% at time of press.

Two candidates ran this year for Pullman School District #267 Director 3, Craig Nelson and James Evermann, who could both not be reached at time of press.

For City of Pullman Ward 1, Council 4 Position Ann Parks and Dan Maher are sitting at a voter count of 1,044 votes counted. Parks takes the lead at 841 votes, 80.56%, with Maher behind at 200 votes, 19.16%. There were 3 write-ins.

Maher could not be reached at time of press.

“I feel very positive and happy, and I’m grateful for everyone, and all the votes I have so far,” Parks said, noting that she looks forward to continuing to serve on the council.

In Ward 3, for Council Position 3 Pat Wright and CJ Robert were up against on the ballot falling at a voter count of 551 votes total counted at time of press. Wright is in the lead at 352, 63.88%, with Robert at 199 votes, 36.12%.

“I feel good about the results so far,” Wright said, “I continue to be cautiously optimistic considering the 3000 votes left to be counted. If the trend continues then I’ll feel a lot better tomorrow.”

Robert could not be reached at time of press.

Up for Position 6 on the City Council, Eric Fejeran and Holly Greystone are sitting at a voter count of 1,644 votes counted at time of press. Fejeran is in the lead at 843 votes, 50.66%, with Greystone at 801 votes, 48.14%.

There were 20 write-ins, 1.2%.

Fejeran could not be reached at time of press.

“For us, our family, and our friends we’re celebrating democracy,” Greystone said, noting that while they are eagerly waiting for the final tally of the results they are grateful for the dedication and support they received. “I’m eagerly anticipating the results and I’m genuinely looking forward to serving the community.”

ST. JOHN

St. John School District 322 has two running for District 3 Director, Melissa Edminster and Dallas Loomis are at a voter count of 133 votes counted at time of press. Edminster takes the lead with 104 votes 78.22%, with Loomis behind at 28 votes, 21.05%. There was one write in. Both could not be reached at time of press.

TEKOA

Running for Tekoa Mayor current mayor Roy Schulz and incumbent Shelly Ausmus are at a voter count of 146 at time of press, with 81 votes for Schulz at 55.48%, and 65 in favor of Ausmus at 44.52%.

Ausmus could not reached at time of press.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I’m happy,” Schulz said, noting that he thinks he’s in a good spot. “I’m pleased that for instance our levy is passing on 70 odd percent right about now, which is really encouraging and a validation as to how things are going.”

Todd Jensen and Mandi Prince running for Council Position 1 are at a voter count of 146 votes counted at time of press. Jensen takes the lead with 79 votes, 54.11%, with Prince behind at 45.89%.

Both could not be reached at time of press.

Running for City Council Position 3, Brad Chandler and Pete Martin are at a voter count of 146 votes counted at time of press. Chandler takes a lead at 75 votes, 51.37%, with Martin 4 votes behind at 71, 48.63%. Both Chandler and Martin could not be reached at time of press.

Lydia Fletcher and Cheri Currier running for City Council Position 7 are at a voter count of 148 votes. Fletcher is in the lead at 91 votes, 61.49%, with Currier behind at 57 votes, 38.51%.

Fletcher could not be reached at time of press.

“I know I’m not ahead,” Currier said, noting that considering some of the other results she was rooting for candidates who are behind. “People spoke, and that’s what they want. I’ll cross my fingers, and hope for the best.”

- This story is reflective of the results as of Tuesday, 10 p.m., updates for the election will come as results are updates.