Primary narrows Grant PUD races

EPHRATA — The results of the Tuesday primary is going to reduce the Grant County PUD races from six candidates to four.

EPHRATA - The results of the Tuesday primary is going to reduce the Grant County PUD races from six candidates to four.

The top two vote getters in a primary race continue on to the general election on Nov. 2.

For Grant County PUD district 2 position, candidates Patti Paris and Dale Walker were the top two vote getters, with 1,933 votes and 1,537 votes respectively.

If they maintain their positions, they advance to run for Commissioner Greg Hansen's seat. Hansen decided not to run for a second term.

Paris, chief operating officer of Columbia Colstor, said she was "thrilled and hopes she can continue to help."

"I was not taking anything for granted," she said. "You can hear a lot of things talking to voters, but until the ballots are cast, no."

Walker, a seed company owner, said he was pleased he is advancing and looks forward to getting his message out to the rest of the county.

"I'm pleased with the outcome, I have a lot of the support in the agricultural areas in the rest of the county and hopefully, will pick up some of the support from Rich Callahan," Walker said.

For the Grant PUD district B position, incumbent Bob Bernd and retired engineer Ron Baker were leading with 2,795 votes and 2,525 votes respectively. They progress to general election in November.

Bernd was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Baker was jubilant with the preliminary results.

"I'm absolutely pleased with the numbers, given the fact I started late with my campaign," he said. "I feel great, just great, now starts the fun. I have two months to get my message out to the rest of the county and I will be doing that ... The beauty of it is, if I pick up 10 percent of the votes (Brandt) Castleton has, it will put me ahead of Bernd."

Grant County Sgt. Tom Jones was leading in Tuesday's primary by 1,550 votes against longtime incumbent Sheriff Frank DeTrolio.

During an appreciation dinner for his campaign workers, Jones said he was "a little bit surprised but humbled at the same time" with the preliminary results.

"I think that the citizens have spoken," said Jones. "We're just going to keep moving forward and continue addressing the issues that need to be addressed."

DeTrolio was unavailable for comment.

The two candidates face off again in the general election, where voters decide the final winner.

In other county races, Grant County Prosecutor D. Angus Lee was leading by 1,609 votes, or 57.19 percent of the votes, against challenger Albert Lin, a former prosecutor in Lee's office. Lee and Lin continue to vie for the position in the general election.

Moses Lake funeral home manager Craig Morrison is leading by 1,336 votes, or 56.47 percent of the votes, in the race to unseat appointed Grant County Coroner David Matney. Morrison and Matney progress to the general election.

In Grant County, some judicial candidates took leads, but they will be determined by a count of all state ballots from the primary election.

Supreme Court position 7 Judge Jim Johnson was leading with 6,808 votes against challenger, Stan Rumbaugh, who garnered 2,384 votes.

The leader of Supreme Court position 6 was Richard B. Sanders, with 5,318 votes. His challengers Charlie Wiggins and Bryan Chushcoff received 2,445 votes and 937 votes respectively in Grant County.

In the race for U.S. Senate, former Republican state Sen. Dino Rossi is leading in Grant County by 2,297 votes against incumbent Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. They advance to the general election.

Grant County Auditor Bill Varney said Tuesday's election was a normal turnout.

Varney expects to see as many as 2,500 more ballots trickling in, including those postmarked Tuesday and others placed in drop boxes throughout the county.

The primary election is certified Sept. 1.

Ballots are mailed to voters Oct. 15 for the Nov. 2 general election.