Costco-backed liquor initiative a winner with voters

Published 8:23 pm Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Voters are overwhelmingly supporting the Costco-backed measure to get the state out of the liquor business in initial returns.

Initiative 1183 is leading 60 percent to 40 percent based on ballot counting in a spate of counties. In Snohomish County, it’s passing by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent.

Voters, meanwhile, are narrowly turning down Tim Eyman’s latest ballot offering to clamp down on the uses of tolls and backing an initiative to increase training and conduct tougher background checks for long term care workers.

Eyman’s Initiative 1125, which also would prevent construction of light rail on I-90, is trailing 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent. The measure had been leading in early returns then fell behind with inclusion of results from King County where 60 percent of voters are rejecting it.

Initiative 1163 dealing with long term care workers is leading 67 percent to 33 percent. Voters approved a similar measure in 2008.