Carter wins another term as commissioner

GRANT COUNTY — County Commissioner Cindy Carter thanked county voters for sending her back for another four years on the Grant County Commission but said this term would be her last.

“I’m relieved the campaign is over and humbled the voters have exercised their faith in me to serve another four years,” Carter wrote in a short email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “My last four years.”

Carter, a Royal City-area resident who has served as a county commissioner since being first elected in 2008, maintained a sizeable lead over challenger Jeff Foster as of election night, with 7,269 votes — or 60.8% — compared with Foster’s 4,609 votes — of 38.5%, according to data available from the Washington State Secretary of State’s office, which publishes official election results.

Foster previously challenged Carter for the county commission seat in 2018, earning 46.6% of the total votes cast in the race compared with Carter’s winning 53.4%, according to archived data from the Secretary of State’s office.

“It was a very rewarding campaign, and I met new friends all over the county,” Foster said. “It’s amazing the reception I got. I’m glad I did it again.”

Foster, a former banker and current real estate broker and property manager who has lived in Moses Lake since 1982, revealed little about his future plans.

“I’m going to keep on doing what I’m doing,” he said.

According to state election data available on the Washington Secretary of State’s website, 9,200 ballots remain to be counted in Grant County, and the election will not be certified until Nov. 29.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.