Carter wins Grant County commissioner race

EPHRATA — Republican Cindy Carter has 3,531 votes more than fellow Royal Slope resident, Democrat Alan Schrom, making her the next Grant County commissioner.

Wednesday's ballot counting put Carter at 8,536 votes, for 62.8 percent.

Schrom, who filed as a write-in candidate on Sept. 18, a day before the primary, garnered enough votes in that race to be placed on the general election ballot. But he's received 5,005 votes through Wednesday's counting, placing him well behind Carter.

The Grant County Auditor's Office has processed about 15,000 ballots, expects to count approximately 3,000 more, but are not anticipating a lead change in this race.

Schrom, a Port of Royal Slope commissioner, maintained a low-profile campaign since the primary and skipped many political forums.

Carter replaces incumbent Republican County Commissioner Deborah Moore of rural Ephrata, who opted not to seek a third term.

Carter said even though the county's Proposition 1 failed, it's evident voters want changes in Grant County's government.

"Probably one-third of the people voted for Proposition No. 1," Carter said today. "We've heard them and now I think we need to respond. I think our government does need to be evaluated."

If changes are not made, Carter said, she predicted similar measures are likely to be on future ballots.

"It's not going to go away," she said.

Carter predicted the next four years to be busy at the courthouse, as the county grows and companies continue locating in Grant County.

She said the county needs to be doing strategic planning, to be ready for the growth.

Schrom said he ran to give voters a choice on the general election ballot.

The county commissioner position would be a step down in pay from his job with the federal Bureau of Reclamation, he said.

"From a personal standpoint, I didn't particularly want the job," Schrom said today. "I was just concerned about the qualifications of the two people that were running in the primary."

Schrom said he does anticipate Carter working hard for the county.