EV Board Race Tightens

Almost two weeks after election day, East Valley School Board challenger Michael King’s lead over incumbent Tim Wick is slowly eroding.

Less than 30 votes separate the two candidates.

In the election day count, King held a 64-vote lead. The Spokane County election office has tallied absentee votes several times since Nov. 2.

But a new count taken Wednesday afternoon indicated the lead has narrowed to a mere 27 votes. Election officials said that perhaps another 12 absentee ballots could come in, along with an unknown number of special and remake ballots.

It is still possible that Wick could come out ahead when the final count is made on Wednesday, election official Julie Boone said. With an uncertain future, both candidates said they are feeling a little anxious for closure.

“It would be nice to have the results down and be done,” Wick said.

Even though he is ahead in the count with only a few more votes expected to come in, King said he is frustrated at not knowing definitively whether he has won.

He has, however, taken a tentative step toward the position. “I went to a school board meeting recently to introduce myself. It was kind of interesting,” he said, with the race being so close.

That is the third meeting he has attended, he said.

Wick said he doesn’t know if he will run again if he loses.

“That’s four years from now. I don’t think that far ahead,” he said. “Besides, I feel like I’m the best candidate for the job this time,” he said.