Dye wins big in county; Caylor bumps Lathim

Vanek, Echanove post big leads for new terms

Pomeroy's Mary Dye posted a strong lead Tuesday in the first count of Whitman County primary election returns with 2,657 votes for the ninth district representative seat.

Othello Democrat Kenneth Caylor had the number-two finish here with 1,604, and Kahlotus Republican Richard Lathim ran a distant third with 685 votes.

Dye's lead here was reflected in the ninth district returns where she rolled up 7,258 votes in the district. Caylor placed second in the district vote at 4,047, and Lathim, who was competing with Dye for the GOP vote, finished with 3,861.

Incumbent mayors G. Todd Vanek of Colfax and Michael Echanove of Palouse finished with strong leads. Vanek, who seeks a second term, had 385 votes in Colfax, and Echanove, seeking a fourth term, had 161 votes.

The other qualifier in Colfax, under the state's top two format for the primary vote, remains unclear with Donald Henderson leading JW Roberts by just seven votes, 170-163.

Tuesday's count for the county totaled 5,121 ballots with as many as 1,000 more ballots left for the next count which is expected to be Friday.

Connie Newman, former Palouse council member, was the number two finisher Tuesday with 57 votes, and Brad Pearce finished third with 23 votes.

Neal Leon had 71 votes to lead the three-way race for the Garfield city council seat. Incumbent Sharon Schnebly and challenger Scott Bowman are tied a 25 votes each for the number-two slot and will await final vote counts to see who gets the number-two finish.

Garfield's proposal for a $60,000 levy for street improvement was the lone measure lagging beneath the 60 percent approval mark with 72 yes and 58 no votes for a 55 percent approval rate.

All other funding requests finished more than 60 percent with the fire district proposals for levy lid lifts getting a strong approval.

Rosalia Fire District 7 received 82 percent approval for its levy lift for the fire district operations, and Pullman District 12 received 66 percent approval for its general fund levy lift and 80 percent for its EMS fund levy.

The levy lift proposals ask voters to retain present levy tax rates which will generate revenue in excess of the state limit of a one percent increase in revenue each year.

Colfax cemetery district's proposal for a $180,000 levy for two years of operation received a 79 percent approval.

Oakesdale's cemetery district's request for $37,500 passed with 67 percent approval.

St. John's request for a $70,000 street improvement levy received 64 percent approval, and its request for an $80,000 water and sewer upgrade levy received 70 percent approval.

Farmington's requests for $12,000 for street maintenance and $8,000 for the current expense fund received 62 and 65 percent approval in the first count.