Lathim, Caylor warrant re-count in close race

Richard Lathim, Kahlotus Republican, and Kenneth Caylor, Othello Democrat, appeared headed for a re-count Tuesday after a whisker-close finish in the final count of primary ballots in the race for District Nine state representative. The two finished with Lathim holding a 47-vote edge for what will be the number-two finish in the top two format of the primary round.

Mary Dye of Pomeroy, who was appointed to the seat vacated by the resignation of Rep. Susan Fagan in May, posted a strong finish in the returns with 9,132 ballots from voters in the district's six counties.

The 47-vote edge from 18,883 ballots cast left Lathim with a slim margin under a quarter of a percent which points to a manual recount under state election rules.

Lathim's margin in the final county sunk from 60 votes reported last week when counties added ballots to their counts. The totals Tuesday emerged after election boards in each county ruled questionable ballots which had been withheld from the count.

Lathim had a 48-vote edge Tuesday afternoon, but the final counts in the last counties to certify shaved another vote off the lead.

Final certified count for the district was 4,899 for Lathim and 4,852 for Caylor.

If Lathim's slim win holds up, it will be two Republicans who will compete for the seat, offered for a special one-year term, in the general election.

Lathim's strongest vote came from his home county, Franklin. It was the only county where he topped Mary Dye.

Caylor who actually trailed Lathim in his home county, Adams, booked his strongest support in Whitman County.

Whitman County's vote was certified Tuesday following a review of ballots by the elections board. A total of 139 ballots were added.

In Colfax Jeremiah (JW) Roberts, who moved past Donald Henderson for the number-two finish in the Colfax mayoral race after a second-round count Aug. 7, finished with a 30-vote edge, 214 to 184. Roberts picked up four more votes in the last count, and Henderson picked up five.

Incumbent G. Todd Vanek finished with 438 votes. Total count of ballots for Colfax was 858.

Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove finished with 185 votes in his bid for a fourth team. Connie Newman advanced to the general election ballot with 77 votes, and Brad Pearce finished third at Palouse with 38 votes.

The close race for the number-two finish in the Garfield race for council position one finished with a one vote margin at 31 for incumbent Sharon Schnebly and 30 for Scott Bowman. Neal Leon posted a strong first-place finish with 84.

Total count of county ballots was 6,266, a return for 30.49 percent of the 20,588 mailed out.

The elections board approved 66 ballots which were initially held because they lacked signatures, and another 73 ballots which had questionable signatures.

Topping the reject list were 2,005 ballots which were returned as undeliverable, a factor which reflects the student turnover at Pullman. Another 82 ballots were dumped because of late postmarks.