Kootenai County voters give GOP wins

Kootenai County voters mostly backed Republicans down the ballot, continuing a long trend of support for conservative candidates. Results released shortly before midnight showed the GOP on track to win at least three of the four contested legislative seats in the county with two House incumbents likely to be re-elected and Mary Souza being elected to the state Senate. Republicans also had comfortable leads over Democratic challengers for five county offices. The race for House seat B in the 4th Legislative District had been close in early results, but incumbent Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, has pulled ahead of Democratic challenger Anne Nesse, 54 to 46 percent. That was with 39 of 73 precincts reporting, plus absentee ballots and early votes cast. In other results Tuesday: •2nd Legislative District, House seat A: Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, was headed to a third term with 61 percent of the vote. Democratic challenger Cheryl Stransky trailed with 39 percent. •3rd Legislative District, House seat A: Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene, had 68 percent to Democrat Michelle Lippert’s 32 percent. •4th Legislative District, Senate: Republican Mary Souza, who defeated incumbent Sen. John Goedde in the May primary, was leading with 75 percent of the vote. Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz had 25 percent. •County commissioner, District 1: Republican Marc Eberlein, who defeated incumbent Todd Tondee in the primary, was leading with 63 percent to Democrat Bruce Noble’s 37 percent. •County commissioner, District 2: Republican David Stewart had 63 percent and Democrat Jerry Shriner had 37 percent. •County clerk: Republican Jim Brannon, appointed last December, had 64 percent to Democrat Larry Belmont’s 36 percent. •County treasurer: Republican Steven Matheson had 64 percent and Democrat Janet Callen had 36 percent. •County assessor: Republican Mike McDowell had 68 percent on his way to a fourth term. Democrat Shirley McFaddan had 32 percent.