Three props in danger of failing

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Nov 16, 20170

Whitman County Elections staff added 3,032 ballots to the previous Election Day, Nov. 7, count for 8,078 total, bringing the voter turnout for the county to 36.22 percent.

Farmington council races are still holding with Lavon Erickson and Mark Hellinger maintaining their leads, but the town’s $12,000 streets proposition is now failing. It now needs two yes votes to pass.

Pullman’s propositions are passing, but are short 442 and 465 votes to validate. Election staffers estimate they have 500 more ballots to count. Next count is set for today, Thursday. Final count is scheduled for Nov. 27 with certification on Nov. 28.

All other Pullman city races remain the same.

In Rosalia, Bob Hill and Janet Strohl have been playing do-see-do for council seat 3. Nov. 7 had Hill ahead, but the Nov. 9 count gave Strohl the edge. Hill is back in the lead with four votes over Strohl. Rosalia’s other races are still on course with Lee Root to take the mayor position and Eric Eilertson to retain seat 5. Shelly Beach is holding the lead for Rosalia Park District position 4.

Albion council 4, Bruce Keniyer and Crystle Morgan are still deadlocked with 53 votes each. Rhonda Anderson widened her lead for the number 3 seat over Sandra Arbini.

Uniontown’s dark horse write-in Ray Heitstuman has only one vote more than incumbent Steve Kelly for council seat 5.

Challenger Jason Fletcher looks to unseat Alyssa Heagy for Tekoa seat 3, but only holds three more votes. Wendy Sienknecht maintains the lead for seat 6. The city’s proposition is still passing.

All Garfield races retain their leaders with Jarrod Pfaff for mayor, Cande Hasenoehrl for seat 4 and Tom Tevlin for seat 5.

Donna Wigen widened her lead for LaCrosse council seat 5, adding 32 votes compared to Melody Wise’s four.

Tamra VanDyke lost a little ground, but not enough to surrender her seat on the Malden Council.

Oakesdale’s propositions gained much more approval with the added votes, both with more than 80 percent yeas.

Propositions for Colton, Palouse, St. John, LaCrosse School District, Fire District 4, Oakesdale, Garfield and Endicott cemetery districts, and park districts for LaCrosse, St. John, Endicott and Oakesdale are all still passing.

All school district races remain the same with Fran Martin, Nathan Roberts and Amanda Tanner keeping their leads for their respective seats.

Charmaine Despain has a strong lead to retain her seat as an Endicott fire commissioner.