Covey wins Moses Lake Irrigation District election
Members of the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District count election ballots Tuesday.
5,247 ballots cast
MOSES LAKE — Former Moses Lake mayor Ron Covey won the election
by 217 for the Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation District
board position.
MOSES LAKE — Former Moses Lake mayor Ron Covey won the election by 217 for the Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation District board position.
Covey received 2,732 votes, according to preliminary results released Tuesday.
His challenger, Mick Hansen, received 2,515 votes.
They faced off for exiting director Glen Rathbone’s position on the board.
Hansen told the Columbia Basin Herald he “probably” will not contest the results.
An undetermined number of challenged ballots remain to be counted. The challenge ballots were cast by voters not shown on the voter list.
During last week’s count, about 80 challenged ballots remained.
The ballots “will be validated based upon vesting deeds by reference to Grant County real property records,” stated Julie Smith, the district’s administrative assistant. “The verification process for challenged ballots has begun and results will be made public as soon as that process has been completed.”
Further details were not released.
Covey said he appreciates voters’ support, but until the challenged ballots cast during the election are certified, nothing is final.
He isn’t calling himself a winner until then, but expects to garner enough votes in the upcoming count.
“I am glad we raised awareness in regard to the district,” Covey said. “This election has brought it to the forefront. Many in the area know much more about it than they did previously.”
Covey said should he take office, he plans on meeting with the irrigation district board and local state legislators to discuss the possibility of changing the election laws.
“It’s the most difficult election I’ve been involved with,” he commented. “It’s so cumbersome and difficult to understand. Some become frustrated trying to vote and give up. That should not be the case.”
Hansen said he felt the people counting the ballots were honest.
“I would just like the ballots not to be stored at the MLIRD,” Hansen said. “I’m not accusing them of anything, I just think it looks bad.”
He hopes the election brought a few things to light about what is going on with the district.
“I don’t see things changing much with Ron Covey,” Hansen stated. “They will continue with their illegal health care. They will not go to the vote of the electors with their $1 per $1,000 assessment ... They will continue to blame other agencies for not having their permits.”
Hansen hopes by this time next year, a new voting system is in place.
He also thanked the “thousands of voters who supported me.”