PRIMARY: Knodell leads for judge
Grant County commissioner race nearly tied
EPHRATA - In Washington state's first top-two primary, the election race for Grant County Superior Court judge appears over.
The only election races concluded by the primary are non-partisan judge positions, according to the Grant County Auditor's Office.
All other election races continue to the general election Nov. 4 with the top-two candidates receiving the most votes.
Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell appears to have won the race for Grant County Superior Court Judge Position 3. Voting results are finalized 10 days after the election
Knodell received 64.2 percent of the votes with 6,546, compared to his opposition attorney Douglas Anderson who received 35.27 percent of the votes with 3,595, according to the Grant County elections office.
"I am very grateful to the people of Grant County to serve them as judge as I have prosecuting attorney," said Knodell. "I want to be a fair and neutral magistrate and am anxious to see what I can do to help other judges."
Judge Evan Sperline ran unopposed for position 1 in Grant County.
In Adams County, Richard W. Miller ran unopposed for superior court judge position 1.
The closest race in Grant or Adams county is the one for Grant County commissioner of District 2, between incumbent LeRoy Allison and challenger Carolann Swartz.
Allison is trailing Swartz by 52 votes in Grant County, according to the auditor's office. Swartz received 49.96 percent of the votes with 1,872, and Allison received 48.57 percent of the votes with 1,820.
"We still have quite a few votes out but I am thrilled at this point and I think it's great," said Swartz. "Especially since I am going up against a long time incumbent."
After more than 15 years, this is the second closest race Allison has faced. He beat Ron Baker by 47 votes in the general election in 2004. Despite trailing by 52 votes, Allison said he's not worried.
"I knew Moses Lake is large population base and she grew up there. I'm not surprised," Allison said of the primary results. "Now we start working on the county wide process."
In Adams County, Rudy Plager leads the race for Adams County commissioner of District 1 with 62.7 percent of the votes with 712, compared to John N. Marshall receiving 37.2 percent with 423, according to the Adams County Auditor's Office.
Roger Hartwig is running unopposed for Adams County commissioner of District 2, and Richard Stevens is running unopposed for Grant County commissioner of District 1.
The new primary system reduced the number of candidates running for Grant County PUD commissioner in the at-large position.
Incumbent Tom Flint and challenger Sam A. Johnson will continue their election runs in the November general election. Flint received 58.1 percent of the votes with 2,838 votes and Johnson received 25.9 percent of the votes with 1,264.
With the primary behind him, Johnson said he wants to focus on how Wannapum and Priest Rapids dams are being taken for granted and how the employees and public need his 31 years of experience to ensure their grandchildren's futures.
Challenger Don Schmauder appears to be eliminated after receiving 14.8 percent of the votes with 724 votes cast in his favor, according to the Grant County Auditor's Office.
Roughly 38 percent of registered voters in Adams County took part in the new primary, while about 37 percent of Grant County voters cast their ballots.
In the congressional race for the 4th District, Doc Hastings led with 66.6 percent of the votes in Grant County and 66.3 percent in Adams County. Challenger George Fearing trailed with 28.7 percent in Grant County and 30.1 percent in Adams County.
"I'm very pleased with tonight's results and give credit to our strong grassroots campaign team across Central Washington for the strong showing," Hastings stated. "We're now headed towards November and I intend to run as hard as ever. It's an honor to represent the communities of Central Washington and I thank the voters for their support in this primary election."
Cathy McMorris Rodgers led the congressional race for the 5th District, part of Adams County, with 75 percent of the votes amongst six candidates, according to the Adams County Auditor's Office.
In the state governor race, Dino Rossi led both counties with 61.4 percent of the votes in Grant County and 65.9 percent in Adams County. Gov. Chris Gregoire trailed with 30.2 percent in Grant County and 27.6 percent in Adams County.
The candidate following Rossi and Gregoire was John W. Aiken Jr., who received 3 percent of the votes in Grant County and 2.2 percent in Adams County.
The two candidates receiving the most votes in their election races continue their runs until the general election on Nov. 4.