Incumbents Turn Back Challengers
Incumbent Stevens County Commissioners Fran Bessermin and Fred Lotze turned back challengers in the Republican primaries for their districts.
Unofficial results from Tuesday’s election show Suncrest resident Bessermin defeating Tony Delgado of Loon Lake 818 votes to 627. Lotze, who was appointed last spring, easily fended off former Commissioner John Hodde 1,710 to 877 in the race to represent Colville and the northern part of the county. Lotze will face little-known Democrat Jeff Johnston in the Nov. 5 general election. Johnston drew 445 votes in his uncontested primary.
Bessermin faces a tougher fight in November. M. Grant McMullen of Suncrest made a strong showing in his uncontested Democratic primary. With 581 votes, he had 28.7 percent of the overall vote, compared with 40.4 percent for Bessermin and 31 percent for Delgado.
In other Stevens County results, incumbent District Court Judge Pam Payne outdistanced a field of three. She had 3,528 votes, or 48.2 percent, to Patty St. Clair’s 2,181. Robert Simeone lost with 1,612.
A two-year, $347,000-a-year Chewelah School District operating levy passed with 87.5 percent support, 936-422.
In the Kettle Falls School District, which includes portions of Stevens and Ferry counties, a $425,000 bond measure was just short of the necessary 60 percent support. The measure was passing in Stevens County, but was dragged down to 59.5 percent by Ferry County voters.
The tentative total was 583 to 397. Absentee ballots will decide the issue when they are counted Sept. 27.
In the judicial district that serves Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties, Republic attorney Rebecca Baker won the Superior Court judge’s position being vacated by Fred Stewart.
Baker had 54 percent of the vote, 5,644 to 4,811, and outpolled Andy Braff of Colville in every county.
Incumbent Ferry County Commissioner Gary Kohler edged fellow Democrat Jerry Sullivan in their primary, 188-142. Kohler will face David Schumacher, who drew only 101 votes in the uncontested Republican primary for the county’s southern district.
At the northern end of the county, Republican Dennis Snook will square off against Democrat Chris Kroupa. Snook eliminated Lorna Johnson 217-80, and Kroupa overpowered Ed Watt 194-65.
The Ferry County Emergency Medical Services District fell well short of the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass a six-year operating levy of 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The measure had 51.7 percent support, 202 votes to 189.
An annexation to the district passed 77 to 8. In the city of Republic, a six-year, 25 cents-per$1,000 operating levy passed with 67.6 percent support, 142 to 68.
There were no surprises in the 7th Legislative District, which includes Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Lincoln and portions of Spokane and Okanogan counties. In the only contested race, Republican Ron Sump defeated Penny Rosenberg, and will face Democrat Kurt Matter in November.
, DataTimes