MLIRD voters turn out Tuesday to decide new director

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District landowners cast their votes for a new board director Tuesday night during the district's 2012 election at the former John L. Scott building in Moses Lake.

Former Grant County Undersheriff Ken Kernan and Moses Lake business owner David Skaug are candidates for Rich Archer's position on the MLIRD board of directors. Archer decided not to run for re-election. Also on the ballot is a yes or no vote to increase the number of board directors from three to five.

Election results were not available at press time.

According to Julie Smith, of the MLIRD, preliminary results from votes cast on Tuesday will be available within the week. Absentee ballots won't be counted until Monday, she said.

Smith said that the voting process this year went a lot smoother than previous elections. This year, there were five lines for ratepayers to fill in versus the four lines in previous elections, said Smith.

The extra line made a big difference, she said, since voters were in and out within a half hour. Voters would have to wait in lines that stretched outside the building during previous elections, said Smith.

Ratepayers started showing up about 15 minutes before polls opened at 1 p.m., said Smith. Voters trickled in and out during the day, Smith said, but MLIRD staff were busiest right when the polls opened.

MLIRD Board Chairman Mick Hansen said things were going smoothly when he voted. He was able to get inside the polling place immediately. "So that was kind of encouraging. In the past, I ended up being outside 15 to 20 minutes."

Managing Editor Lynne Lynch contributed to this report.