MLIRD election results final

MOSES LAKE - The addition of challenged ballots kept leading candidate Ron Covey the winner in the Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation District race.

He won the election for director Glen Rathbone's seat by 237 votes, according to results released this week by the district.

Covey, former mayor of Moses Lake, gained 35 votes when the ballots were added, bringing his total to 2,767 votes.

His opponent, Mick Hansen,a former state legislator from Moses Lake, received 15 more votes from the group of challenged ballots. Hansen's total was 2,530.

The ballots came into question because some people weren't on the voter list for a variety of reasons.

Some of the issues concerned the processing of tax rolls in time for the election and unmarried people owning land together, irrigation district attorney Chris Ries said in a Dec. 16 Columbia Basin Herald article.

A voter is allowed two votes per parcel of land owned within the district, one for the voter and another for a spouse.

On Thursday, Covey deferred further questions to Ries about the roughly 30 votes that were disqualified and how a voter knows if their vote was counted.

Ries was unavailable.

Covey did say the challenged ballots weren't opened, making the voters' identities unknown.

At this week's board meeting, Covey said Hansen announced he wrote area legislators to change the confusing election laws governing irrigation districts.

Hansen also wanted the district to submit a proposal on the changes.

Covey said he didn't think the proposal could be done during this legislative session, but possibly during a special session later this year.

"If we want to do it, we want to make sure to do it properly," Covey commented.

Covey also wants to make the election process easier for ratepayers, as it is difficult for most people to understand.

Covey was named the board's president this week and also discussed his goals with the Columbia Basin Herald.

He wants to see the district's dredging of Moses Lake started and the herbicide treatment for the lake continued.

Covey also wants the district's water quality institute continued for area students.

With the help of the local walleye club, having the district involved with improving walleye fishing in Moses Lake is another one of his goals.

He also discussed seeing the lake used for many more planned activities that would generate tourism dollars for the community and to benefit citizens as well.

The activities include boat racing and using personal water craft.

Having the district participate in a fountain program, like at Neppel crossing, would help improve the quality of the lake, he said.