SULTAN — A candidate for Sultan City Council has unseated the incumbent by four votes in a hand recount certified Wednesday by the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
Rocky Walker in the second and final recount since the November election defeated Kay George with 476 versus 472 votes.
“I finally did it,” Walker, 55, said. “It took six long weeks to figure it out.”
State law mandates a machine recount when initial election returns come within one half of a percent between candidates. Following the first recount, George requested another count by hand.
George, 54, will have to shoulder the expense of the second recount, which she estimates will cost about $250, or 25 cents for each vote cast.
“I am proud to have lost by only four votes by running a clean campaign,” the Sultan real estate brokerage owner said. “If the misrepresentation hadn’t have been out there I wouldn’t have lost.”
George said she felt bullied for bringing issues to the city’s attention. She served on the council since 2011.
“I’m proud that I stood my ground for what I knew to be true,” she said. “And I’d do it again.”
Walker commended his opponent for her clean campaign. He told The Herald he can back up any of the claims he made during the race.
With the campaign over, Walker said, his priorities moving forward include growing the city, improving infrastructure and obtaining the funding to do so.
“I’m going to start off by doing a lot of listening,” the Sky Valley native said. “I have a lot to learn and you don’t learn by talking. You learn by listening.”
Walker is a retired business owner, kitchen designer and cabinet consultant. He often volunteers in the community.
“I see some things going on in the community that need a little boost in the right direction,” he said.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
