Spokane County residents overwhelmingly agreed to continue paying an extra penny on each $10 purchase to help pay for law enforcement costs.
A ballot measure to extend a sales tax being collected since 2004 was approved by about 61 percent of the votes tallied Tuesday night. While thousands of ballots are likely still in the mail and won’t be fully counted before next week, the approval margin is so large that county officials could easily claim victory.
“It is a relief,” said Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who campaigned hard for the measure that helps pay for some of his deputies and jailers. “I really appreciate the citizens of Spokane County for being educated on the issues.”
While there was no organized opposition to the ballot measure, which will raise an estimated $7 million per year for the next 10 years, Knezovich said he did talk to individuals who were against it. The biggest complaint was that elected officials haven’t always done what they promised with money raised for law enforcement programs. He had to work to assure voters that elected officials have learned the importance of maintaining public trust.
Updated at 4:25 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009
| Spokane County public safety tax |
|---|
| Yes | 48,593 / 61.50% |
| No | 30,420 / 38.50% |
Other races
| Spokane County | Fire Dist. 4 property tax levy |
|---|
| Approved | 3,247 / 42.89% |
| Rejected | 4,324 / 57.11% |
| City of Cheney | Mayor |
|---|
| Tom Trulove | 607 / 44.47% |
| C. Allan Gainer | 404 / 29.6% |
| Curt Huff | 354 / 25.93% |
| Council Position 3 |
|---|
| Kathleen A. Warren | 274 / 21.36% |
| Jason MH Alvarado | 253 / 19.72% |
| Mike McKeehan | 756 / 58.92% |
| City of Medical Lake | Mayor |
|---|
| Laura L. Parsons | 134 / 15.06% |
| Mikeal Suniga | 125 / 14.04% |
| Tony Harbolt | 94 / 10.56% |
| John Higgins | 537 / 60.34% |
| Town of Fairfield | Mayor |
|---|
| Michael J. VanSlyke | 12 / 7.59% |
| Edward Huber | 123 / 77.85% |
| Ron Rogers | 23 / 14.56% |
| Town of Rockford | Council Position 1 |
|---|
| Larry Van Every | 21 / 16.67% |
| Howard Brutschy | 36 / 28.57% |
| Stan Seehorn | 69 / 54.76% |
| Spokane schools | Position 3 |
|---|
| Heidi Olson | 7,857 / 30.67% |
| Jeff Bierman | 10,227 / 39.93% |
| Deana Brower | 7,531 / 29.4% |
| Position 4 |
|---|
| Rocky Treppiedi | 10,958 / 41.53% |
| Laura Carder | 9,347 / 35.43% |
| Austin DePaolo | 6,080 / 23.04% |
| East Valley schools | District 3 director |
|---|
| Bill Powers | 605 / 20.68% |
| Kay Sieck | 638 / 21.81% |
| Guy Gifford | 543 / 18.56% |
| Heidi Gillingham | 1,139 / 38.94% |
| Freeman School District | District 1 director |
|---|
| John Zingg | 339 / 38% |
| Allen Crist | 406 / 45.52% |
| Hal Ophus | 147 / 16.48% |
