The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

COLUMBIA CO. HOSPITAL DISTRICT: Hospital Vote a Dead Heat

Preliminary results: Yes No

Columbia Co. 1,005 - 58.36% 717 - 41.64%

Walla Walla Co. 269 - 64.98% 145 - 35.02%

Total 1,274 - 59.64% 862 - 40.36%

DAYTON - The Columbia County Hospital District bond levy measure appeared too close to call Tuesday night after preliminary voting results were released. Preliminary vote counts showed a 59.64 percent yes vote for combined votes in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties.

The measure needs a 60% yes vote to pass. If the preliminary count were to hold, the measure would fail by about seven votes. However, the Columbia County Auditor's Office estimates that at least 65 ballots are yet to be counted. Ballots mailed and postmarked by November 4 will be counted.

About 65% of voters in the Walla Walla County portion of the Columbia County Hospital District, which includes all of the Waitsburg School District, voted yes on the measure. However, the measure collected just over 58% yes vote in Columbia County.

The final vote count in Columbia County will be November 25, at which time the vote will be certified. Walla Walla County will count additional votes on Friday, prior to final vote certification on November 25.

WALLA WALLA COUNTY: Turner Headed to Reelection

Preliminary Results:

Walla Walla County Sheriff

John Turner 6,094 - 52.47%

Tom Cooper 5,521 - 47.53%

Walla Walla County Commissioner

Jim Duncan 6,560 - 59.9%

Dale Johnson 4,392 - 40.1%

Walla Walla County Coroner

Richard Greenwood 7,402 - 68.11%

Frank Brown 3,465 - 31.89%

Walla Walla County Auditor

Karen Martin 8,411 - 75.16%

Mark Spinks 2,780 - 24.84%

WALLA WALLA - Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner appeared headed to a narrow victory in his race for re-election against challenger Tom Cooper. The preliminary vote count showed Turner with 52.47% of the vote. He had a lead over Cooper of 573 votes.

However, the Walla Walla County Auditor's office estimates that more than 2,500 ballots are yet to be counted. And additional vote count will be held Friday.

In the Walla Walla County Commissioner Race, Jim Duncan had a strong lead in the preliminary count over his opponent, Dale Johnson. The winner will replace Commissioner Greg Tompkins, who is retiring.

The preliminary count showed that Duncan received 59.9% of the vote, and held a 2,168 vote lead over Johnson.

In other Walla Walla County races, incumbent Coroner Richard Greenwood and incumbent Auditor Karen Martin were cruising to easy victories of victories. The preliminary count showed Greenwood with 68.11% of the vote against his challenger, former coroner Frank Brown. Martin received more than 75% of the vote against challenger Mark Spinks.

COLUMBIA COUNTY: Jackson, Culwell Prevail

Preliminary Results:

Columbia County Commissioner

Merle D. Jackson 920 55.32%

Dwight E. Richter 743 44.68%

Columbia County Prosecutor

Rea L. Culwell 918 56.15%

Randell O. Lewis 717 43.85%

DAYTON - Merle Jackson will be the next Columbia County Commissioner, replacing Chuck Reeves, who is retiring. Preliminary results released Tuesday show that Jackson received 55.32% of the vote, beating opponent Dwight Richter by 177 votes.

In the Columbia County Prosecutor race, incumbent Rea Culwell prevailed over challenger Randy O. Lewis, 56.15% to 43.85%. In the preliminary vote count, Culwell had a 201 vote edge.

The Columbia County Auditor's Office estimates that about 65 ballots remain to be counted in the county.

Richter and Lewis both made the general election ballot after receiving the necessary write-in votes in the primary election in August. Richter filed as a write-in and came in second behind Jackson, beating candidate Dain Nysoe. Culwell ran unopposed in the primary election, but Lewis was added to the general election ballot after receiving 18 write-in votes.

There were no other contested races in Columbia County, though several other offices were on the ballot.