Corker keeps lead over Gilmore as tally ends
Final ballot counts for primaries around Spokane County on Friday provided no changes to results of local races projected over the last week.
Former Spokane City Councilman Steve Corker maintained a slim lead over neighborhood activist Judith Gilmore for a spot on the ballot in the city’s northwest District 3. Corker finished with 2,748 votes, 43 ahead of Gilmore, for second place in the seven-candidate primary. Nancy Mc- Laughlin finished first with 3,210 votes.
In the closest contest, Lucy Harmon finished with 95 votes in the Deer Park primary for City Council Postion 3, one vote ahead of Mary Gray. That sets up a general election contest between Harmon and Ella Harper, who received 226 votes in the primary.
In Airway Heights, David Wooten finished with 70 votes, 14 ahead of Max Minchew, and will run in the general against Larry Haskell, who received 161 votes.
In the East Spokane Water District commissioner’s race, Ed Peck finished with 133 votes, 13 ahead of Dick Neff, and will face Josie Zeller, who received 135 votes.
None of those races is close enough to force a mandatory recount under state law. Losing candidates have until Wednesday to request a recount, which they would have to pay for if a change in the results doesn’t make them the winner.
More than 63 percent of the voters in Fire District 3 approved a levy restoration, and more than 78 percent of the voters in Spangle agreed to lift a property tax levy lid for fire services. Airway Heights voters turned down a $5 million park bond issue by nearly 2-to-1.
In other primaries, Bill Gothmann and Edward Mertens topped a six-person primary to run for Council Position 6 in the City of Spokane Valley. Mary Verner will face Dallas Hawkins in Spokane Council District 2. Amy Jo Sooy will face Allan Gainer in the election for Cheney mayor,
June Sine will face Guy Gifford in the East Valley School District race. Mike Jackson will run against Raymond Pendell for commissioner in Fire District 3, and Gregory Hesse will face James Oberst for commissioner in Fire District 8.
Turnout for the election was 25 percent.