Mechanical issue delays Grant County vote counting

Nearly one-fourth of votes tallied on election night

EPHRATA — With approximately 12,000 ballots left to count, results from Tuesday's general election are hard to come by in Grant County.

The ballot counter in the courthouse elections office stopped operating and needed tweaking after an initial 3,500 ballots were counted the night of the election.

Election officials attribute the snafu to a change in ballot paper "stalk" or paper thickness.

Candidates, looking for results, showed up at the courthouse around 8:30 p.m. They quickly departed, realizing results wouldn't be available until late today, at the earliest.

A technician from Spokane arrived at the courthouse around 9 p.m. Tuesday to make adjustments to the ballot counter, but election officials only processed 6,514 ballots before calling it quits at midnight.

Counting is now ongoing and results are expected to be posted hourly on the county's Web site, www.co.grant.wa.us, the Grant County Auditor's Office reported.

Prop.1 — Freeholders

The county's Proposition 1 — asking voters whether a group of 21 freeholders should convene to draft a Home Rule Charter for Grant County — received mostly "no" votes. Early numbers are 3,936 "no" votes for 66.34 percent, to 1,997 "yes" votes for 33.66 percent.

A defeat of the proposition nullifies 71 candidates' bids for the 21 freeholder positions.

County Treasurer

County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant, a Democrat, moved ahead of Republican challenger Todd A. Buys, of Quincy. Pheasant, of Ephrata, has 3,803 votes for 60.87 percent, to Buys' 2,433 for 38.94 percent.

County Auditor

Bill Varney, Grant County auditor and Democrat, is edging Republican challenger Dan Stout of Moses Lake in early counts. Varney, of Moses Lake, has 3,539 votes for 57.19 percent, to Stout's 2,637 votes for 42.61 percent.

Pheasant and Varney, as Democrats, are an endangered species in Grant County's courthouse. They've got a combined 36 years experience in office. But as the only two Democrats left in the courthouse, their Republican opponents were expected to do well.

County Commissioner

Republican Grant County commissioner candidate Cindy Carter garnered 3,700 early votes, for 61.87 percent. Democratic opponent Alan Schrom picked up 2,251 votes. Both candidates, political neophytes, are from Royal City, ensuring the south half of Grant County representation on the commission. The winner replaces incumbent Republican Deborah Moore of rural Ephrata, who chose not to seek a third term.

County offices

Several county officials, all Republican incumbents, ran unopposed in the general election, virtually guaranteeing victory. Those candidates are: County Assessor Laure Grammer, of Moses Lake; County Coroner Jerry Jasman, of Marlin, formerly a Democrat; County Prosecutor John Knodell, of Quincy; County Sheriff Frank De Trolio, of Moses Lake.

Political newcomer Kimberly Allen, of Ephrata, a Republican candidate for County Clerk, ran unopposed.

Grant County District Court Judges Richard C. Fitterer and Janis Whitener-Moberg, both incumbents, also ran unopposed.

Grant County PUD races

In the two Grant County Public Utility District commissioner races, Terry Brewer, of Soap Lake, and Bob Bernd, of Moses Lake, lead in early counts.

Brewer, running for the commissioner District No. 1 position left vacant by Vera Claussen's retirement next month, has 3,091 votes for 57.13 percent. Brewer's opponent Ron Baker, of Moses Lake, has 2,300 votes for 42.51 percent. The District No. 1 commission seat, a six-year post, represents much of the north and eastern portions of the county.

Bernd, running for commissioner District B at-large, a four-year position, has 2,979 votes for 54.68 percent. His opponent, Dale Walker of Moses Lake, has 2,437 votes for 44.73 percent, in early counting. The District B at-large seat represents the center of the county, including Moses Lake.

Incumbent PUD commissioner Bill Bjork was ousted by Walker and Bernd in the primary.