Riggs leading Hankins for Council

MOSES LAKE — Although the results are unofficial, if vote totals stay where they are during future ballot counts Mike Riggs will be serving on the Moses Lake City Council.

Riggs secured 1,155 votes, a 55.58 percent total, while Hankins took 923 votes, a 44.42 percent total. Riggs is a retired educator, community volunteer and self-described “house husband.” He previously spent 28 years as an administrator in public education, was a volunteer board member for the Big Bend Community College Foundation and Serve Moses Lake and served as the co-chair for Moses Lake Trails Planning Team.

Hankins spent 25 years in the United States Air Force and is a retired physician's assistant. He completed two 1-year tours in Vietnam and spend time in different base hospitals as an assistant manager of an emergency room, manager for the hospital transportation department, which includes the ambulance service, and as manager of a medical surgical ward.

Riggs and Hankins were pitted against former council member/mayor Todd Voth in the August primary and came out victorious over the longtime council member. Voth resigned from the council before the results from the primary were certified however, citing personal attacks against him, his family and his personal property.

Tuesday night’s results are unofficial. The next scheduled ballot count is set for today at 4:30 p.m. The results will be certified by the state auditor’s office Nov. 28.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.