Mayor race too close to call; all local funding passes

Two hotly debated state initiatives and mayor’s races in Garfield and Oakesdale on the Nov. 5 ballot made this election a bit exciting.

The mayoral race in Garfield is simply too close to call with only two votes between the two candidates.

“It’s exactly what I thought it would be,” Ray McCown said, who leads the mayor’s race with 92 votes. “It’s very close. I really thought Larry would win.

“I’ve gotta catch my breath. I’m not going to brag yet.”

Larry Hunt, who has 90 votes, said he was surprised the race was so close.

“I’m glad to see so many of our townspeople get out and vote,” he said. “I really didn’t know what to expect. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

In the race for Oakesdale mayor, front runner Dennis Palmer has 90 votes, said he felt good about the race.

“I’m happy and thankful for everybody who voted for me, and I hope I don’t let them down.” he said Tuesday night. “Last year was a busy year for us. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

Al Evans has 41 votes in the Oakesdale mayoral race.

“I don’t feel too bad,” Evans said. “I let the people know I wanted to work for them.”

Since Evans is on the city council he said he still can work for the people.

“We all get along. I’ll do the best I can for the people of Oakesdale,” Evans said. “If Mr. Palmer does win, I’ll be happy to work with him.”

St. John School District voters overwhelmingly approved the special levy with 234 votes approving it and 102 rejecting it.

St. John-Endicott Superintendent Gary Wargo said Tuesday night he is very grateful to the voters for approving the special levy.

“I’m pleased and thankful that we’re getting the support for the proposal asking for money to improve our school,” he said. “It’s nice how our communities support our schools they way they do.

“The work really starts now,” he said.

The cost to complete the heating replacement project is $969,000. The levy will raise the money over three years beginning in 2014.

Taxpayers will see an increase of $1.84 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2014 , $1.80 per $1,000 in 2015 and $1.75 per $1,000 in 2016.

The project will begin in May 2014 and will be complete by the start of the school year in September 2014.

State Initiative 517, sponsored by Tim Eyman, would set penalties for interfering with or retaliating against signature gatherers and petition signers, and extend time for gathering initiative petition signatures. In Whitman County, it was failing, as was State Initiative 522 that would require that all foods containing genetically engineered products to be labeled.

Results for Whitman County can be found on Page A4.