Corker inching ahead on ballot

Former Spokane City Councilman Steve Corker inched ahead of neighborhood activist Judith Gilmore on Wednesday in the see-saw battle for a spot on the Nov. 8 election ballot.

After counting absentee ballots received and processed the day after the election, county elections workers said Corker had a 21-vote lead over Gilmore for the City Council position in Northwest Spokane’s District 3.

Tuesday night, after the early absentee ballots and votes cast at poll sites were tallied, Gilmore had a 12-vote lead.

The two are vying for the right to face businesswoman Nancy McLaughlin, who finished first in the primary with 29 percent of the vote. Gilmore and Corker each have about 25 percent of the vote.

Absentee ballots will be counted every weekday as long as there are at least 25 to count, Elections Manager Paul Brandt said. If the two candidates are separated by less than one-half of 1 percent after all votes are counted and the election certified, state law will require a recount.

In other close races, Lucy Harmon maintained a two-vote lead over Mary Gray for a spot on the Deer Park Council Position 3 ballot. The winner will face Ella Harper, who collected more votes than the other two combined.

David Wooten maintained a 16-vote lead over Max Minchew for second place in the Airway Heights Council primary, and Ed Peck widened his lead slightly, from 10 votes to 12 votes, over Dick Neff in the East Spokane Water District primary.