Washington lower-class-size initiative, I-1351, tips to Yes

Yes votes for the initiative to lower class sizes took the lead for the first time Thursday evening.

Initiative 1351, which would require smaller class sizes and more teachers, was trailing statewide by about 12,000 votes on election night and has advanced since then. Election results posted on the Washington secretary of state’s website Thursday evening showed the measure ahead by 4,660 votes.

In Spokane County, the count has mirrored the state trend. It was barely failing after Tuesday’s results and now is barely passing.

More ballots will be counted today.

I-1351 would set maximum class sizes in kindergarten through third grade at 17 students in most classrooms and 15 children in schools in low-income areas. Classes in the fourth through 12th grades would have fewer than 25 students per class, or 22 in low-income schools.

In races too-close-to-call in Spokane County, Aimee Maurer strengthened her lead over incumbent District Court Judge Randy Brandt in the voting numbers released Thursday evening.

Maurer holds 51 percent of the vote compared to Brandt’s 48 percent. There are an additional 26,000 Spokane County ballots left to count, and another vote tally is set to be released this evening.

The Airway Heights Fire Department’s emergency medical services levy slipped a bit in Thursday’s results, dropping from 59.9 percent approval to 57.97 percent. The levy requires a 60 percent supermajority to pass. There are still 260 ballots from Airway Heights voters to count, and the levy would need to get a yes vote from 66 percent of those ballots to pass.

An EMS levy in Spokane County Fire District 12, which needs 60 percent for approval, was failing with 52 percent support.