Adams County residents vote on parks levy, races

Adams County voter turnout Tuesday night was 20% of the 7,552 registered voters, with about 200 ballots left to count. The next count will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, and the results will be certified Aug. 17.

In the only Othello-area race, voters in Othello Park and Recreation District 1 voted on a one-year, $200,000 maintenance and operations levy. The park district operates P.J. Taggares Park, at the intersection of West Cunningham and South Taylor roads.

In the unofficial results Tuesday, 54% of voters approved and 46% rejected the levy. There were 710 votes.

Because it’s a revenue measure, the levy request needed 60% yes votes to pass.

Parks district commissioner Rolando Cerrillo said the money would have been used to make upgrades and repairs to the park and its equipment. The restrooms would be upgraded and the backstops at the baseball field repaired. The sprinkler system and the picnic shelters also are in need of repairs, Cerrillo said.

Commissioners planned to work on the park football fields and to buy a smaller mower to help with maintenance.

But Cerrillo said commissioners already have resubmitted the request for the November ballot.

‘“We’re going to try again,” he said.

If the levy request passes in November, property owners will be assessed an estimated 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of property valued at $250,000 will pay $37.50 per year. A landowner with property valued at $300,000 will pay $40 per year.

Incumbent Ritzville Mayor Linda Kadlec had two challengers, Glenn Stockwell and Dennis Chamberlain, in the primary. The winner in the general election will serve a two-year term. Kadlec replaced former mayor Gary Cook in March.

Kadlec received about 57% of the vote, while Chamberlain had 24% as of Tuesday. Both will advance to the general election in November, but Stockwell, who received 18%, likely will not.

Incumbent Mike Weigand drew three challengers in the race for Ritzville City Council, Charles Jingling, Dan Peters and Marsha Reimers Smith. The council position is for a four-year tem.

Reimers Smith and Weigand will advance to the general election, with about 36% and 29% of the votes, respectively. Jingling received 20% and Peters had 14%.

Two incumbents on the Lind Town Council each drew two challengers. Both council seats are for four-year terms.

Incumbent Kathy Vedder was challenged by Mike J. Wold and Sheri Marlin for Council Position 2. Marlin and Wold will advance to the general election, with 46% and 42%, respectively. Vedder received 13%.

Laura Dew and Whisper Casady challenged incumbent Richard Baldwin for Council Position 3. Dew and Baldwin will advance to the general election, with 67% and 21%, respectively. Casady had 11% of the votes.