Latest election count; Three races, one levy reversed

Friday’s latest count of mail-in ballots from the Nov. 3 general election reversed the election night outcome of three races and one funding proposition.

The updated count included 10,581 ballots received by the Whitman County’s elections department. All but 140 ballots marked for canvass have been counted. The canvass board meets Nov. 23 to decide on the ballots in question. A majority of the 140 outstanding ballots are those with postmarks later than election day. Final certification of the election will be Nov. 24.

Friday’s count adds 3,467 to the tally reported on election night.

One of the losing candidates in the reversed races, David Gibney of Pullman, announced he was considering a request for a recount.

After trailing 276-271 on election night, Jeff Hawbaker pulled ahead of Gibney 433-398 in the race to represent Ward 3 on the Pullman City Council.

Updated returns reversed the winner of the Rosalia Mayoral race. Jim Stenhouse, councilman who left his seat to run for the spot vacated by Mayor Ken Jacobs, now has a seven-vote lead, 131-124, over opponent Brady Kiesz.

Kiesz led 110-102 after the initial count, but 67 percent of the ballots counted after election day swung toward Stenhouse to give him the lead.

In another lead change, Roger Marcus has pulled ahead of David Arrasmith 194-183 in the race for the Palouse City council position 7. Arrasmith had a 140-128 lead on election night.

Gibney said he may ask for a recount, but had not yet decided.

“Right now I’m not ruling anything out,” said Gibney.

He said it would cost a reasonable price, adding he has campaign funds left to pay for the recount.

Auditor Eunice Coker said a machine recount costs $.15 per ballot, while a hand recount costs $.25 per ballot.

None of the races were close enough to trigger a mandatory recount. Recounts are mandatory when the difference between two candidates is less than 2,000 votes and less than one-half of one percent of the votes cast for both candidates.

However, any candidate, party or group of five people can petition the Secretary of State for a recount within three business days of the certification of the election.

Both Kiesz and Arrasmith told the Gazette they did not intend to ask for a recount.

The Oakesdale’s Park & Rec district levy, which was just under the required 60 percent approval mark on election night, is now right at 60 percent, 198-132.

The updated total of 10,581 puts the overall election turnout at 55 percent.