Early returns from the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election showed incumbents strong in local city and school races.
On the Snoqualmie Valley School District ticket, Scott Hodgins held the lead for the district 1 seat with 63 percent of the vote, while Paul Houldridge trailed with 36 percent.
In the district 3 race, incumbent Craig Husa led Kevin Bardsley, 56 percent to 43 percent.
“I’m pleased to be leading,” Husa said. “I’m glad to be in the position I’m in.”
Husa said he plans to reach out to his opponent’s supporters.
“I’m sure Kevin had a good following,” he said. “We all have different viewpoints. We need to come together and pull in the same direction for the kids.”
Marcy Busby and Dan Popp were not opposed for the district 4 and 5 seats. Busby and Popp drew roughly 98 percent approval, with 70 and 101 write-in votes cast against them, respectively.
About 22 percent of registered voters in the district took part in Tuesday’s election.
City races
In council races, Snoqualmie district 5 councilwoman Maria Henriksen held a significant lead over challenger Terry Sorenson. Wednesday’s results showed Henriksen with 68 percent of the vote, Sorenson with 30 percent.
Henriksen celebrated Tuesday evening, savoring brownies and ice cream with her sons, who recently won their election to elementary school student body offices.
“I want to thank the voters for their confidence,” she said. “I am looking forward to having this election done and turning my attention 100 percent back to business.”
Henriksen said she appreciates Sorenson’s concern for the city.
“I hope that he gets involved,” she said. “There are a lot of opportunities for involvement in the city and community.”
Incumbents Bob Jeans, Bryan Holloway and Kathi Prewitt were unopposed for positions 3, 5 and 7, garnering about 98 percent approval apiece, as was Mayor Matt Larson, with 91 percent approval. Unopposed council races drew about 20 write-in votes apiece; the mayor’s race had 144 write-in votes.
In North Bend, Alan Gothelf, running for position 2, and Ross Loundenback, for position 4, were unopposed. They drew 97 and 96 percent approval, respectively.
About 41 percent of Snoqualmie and 47 percent of North Bend voters took part in the election.
County races
Dow Constantine held the edge in Tuesday’s vote for King County Executive, with 58 percent to Susan Hutchison’s 40 percent.
About 49 percent of King County voters cast ballots in that race.
King County Sheriff Sue Rahr was unopposed, while, in the assessor race, Lloyd Hara beat out a field of five candidates with 32 percent of the vote.
King County Charter Amendment No. 4, which would approve new protections for wild spaces, had a massive lead margin with 81 percent approval.
In Fall City, fire commissioners Eric Hollis and Dan Meredith were unopposed and re-elected with 99 percent approval.
State measures
Early results from the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election showed the Eyman-sponsored initiative targeting property taxes looking weak, while a statewide measure concerning responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners showed a small lead for approval.
Initiative Measure 1033, which would have capped government revenues at inflation and population growth, was in trouble, with a 57 percent ‘no’ vote statewide, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office. That move had drawn criticism as an unfair burden for local governments. The city councils of Carnation and Snoqualmie and the Snoqualmie Valley School Board passed resolutions urging voters to turn it down.
Referendum Measure 71, which spells out state rights for domestic partners, was approved by 52 percent as of Wednesday.
Results for about 376,000 mail ballots were posted as of Tuesday, Nov. 10, by the King County Elections Department. The counted ballots represent about one quarter of the total number mailed to King County voters. Although ballots have been slow to come in, King County Elections had predicted a 56 percent voter turnout.
King County Elections will certify the vote on Nov. 24. More information can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
