Retired Judge Charles Hosack, who presided over the six-day trial last month, ruled Tuesday evening that Brannon and Kelso failed to prove that the outcome of the election had changed. In his thorough 20-page ruling, Hosack never indicated he thought the suit to be frivolous, which would be a needed component for Kennedy to seek attorneys fees from Brannon. Kennedy attorney Scott Reed, who is out of town, called The Inlander to discuss the ruling. Reed says he did an estimate of legal costs some months back. “My estimate then was $40,000 and that was only me,” Reed says. With the addition of second attorney Peter Erbland, “I think it would be in the vicinity of $60,000 or $70,000 at least.” Reed says it’s unlikely Kennedy has any avenue to collect legal fees from Brannon.“The judge treated their complaint as a legitimate complaint,” Reed says/Kevin Taylor, Inlander. More here.

Question: Imagine, you win an election by 5 -- er, 3 votes -- and get handed a bill for $60,000 because your vanquished opponent can't take no for an answer. Will this election discourage other citizens from running for local elections?