Dexter keeps lead after absentee count

MOSES LAKE - Kris Dexter will remain on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District's Board of Directors.

Dexter took an early lead over opponent Tom Bennett last week, receiving 171 votes to Bennett's 144 at the polling place. Absentee ballots were counted Monday, with those results still in Dexter's favor. Dexter received a combined total of 242 votes while Bennett received 206 votes. Those numbers include votes cast both at the polling place and on absentee ballots.

A total of 448 votes were cast in this year's election, according to MLIRD staff.

The race was the only contested race in the district's annual election.

Directors Mary Perry and Richard Teals were appointed to the board earlier this year. No one ran against Perry and Teals in December's election, so they were reappointed.

Perry will serve a three-year term and Teals is filling an unexpired term and has two years remaining, not three years as previously reported, according to Board Director Jeff Foster.

Dexter was also appointed to the board this year. His term now expires Dec. 31, 2015.

The three were appointed following the resignations of former directors Mick Hansen, Ken Kernan and Ron Covey, all of which came over the course of the past year.

The Columbia Basin Herald reported Dec. 4 that director Bill Bailey had resigned. Bailey did not resign and is still serving on the board, Foster clarified this week. The board's next meeting is Jan. 13.