Blankenship, Weise leading in Adams County commission races

RITZVILLE — If the trends established on election night continue, Adams County will have two new commissioners.

In unofficial results, challenger Dan Blankenship is leading incumbent John Marshall for Position No. 1, and Jay Weise is ahead of Ken Johnson in the race for Position No. 2, the open seat vacated by incumbent Roger Hartwig.

Blankenship, of Ritzville, has 2,116 votes to 1,081 for Marshall.

“I’m very disappointed about that,” Marshall said of the result. He said he was very proud of the work done in the eight years he has been on the commission. It must have been time, in the eyes of Adams County voters, for a change, he said, but they can’t change the past eight years and the commission’s accomplishments in that time. Win or lose, he’s proud of what he accomplished, he said.

Marshall said commissioners worked to attract new industries – and did – and added new services for residents. The county is in a better position than it was eight years ago, he said, and the new commission will have more room to make mistakes.

“I hope they’re careful with their decisions,” he said. The commission job hasn’t always been fun, he said, but doing the job has been an honor.

Blankenship did not return a phone call asking for comment.

In election night results, Weise, of Othello, had 2,402 votes to 810 votes for Johnson, also of Othello.

“I’m extremely happy at this point in time,” Weise said Tuesday night. He said he looks forward to working with county employees at the courthouse and serving Adams County residents.

Johnson didn’t return a phone call asking for comment.