Swartz keeps lead

- Staff report

GRANT COUNTY - Grant County District 2 commissioner candidate Carolann Swartz remains in the lead over incumbent LeRoy Allison.

The latest count was conducted Thursday afternoon, the Grant County Auditor's Office reported. The next count is being conducted today at 4 p.m.

There are 650 votes left to count.

Swartz accumulated 11,351 votes, 50.78 percent, and Allison has 11,004 votes, or 49.22 percent, according to the elections office.

She now leads Allison by 347 votes. Previously, she led him by 345 votes.

"I'm pleased," Swartz said about the results. "That's great. I'm encouraged."

She said waiting for the results feels agonizing.

Allison said he was not ready to comment about the election to the Columbia Basin Herald on Thursday.