By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
In one of four close races that are likely to hinge on 25,000 absentee votes to be counted today, D.J. Wilson is hoping for a come-from-behind victory to become the Democratic nominee in a critical legislative race.
On the other hand, Democrat Brian Sullivan needs only about 30 percent of the remaining votes to maintain his lead for the House of Representatives seat in the 21st Legislative District.
The two are battling to take on incumbent Joe Marine, R-Mukilteo, in the November general election. Sullivan had a 107-vote lead at the close of counting in Tuesday’s primary election. Both political parties consider the seat critical to either keeping a 49-49 membership tie in the house or giving the Democrats a slim majority.
Other races include a close three-way battle for mayor in Lynnwood. Only the top two finishers go on to the Nov. 6 general election. Also, there are only two votes separating the second- and third-place finishers in a Fire District 25 commissioner race, and in Fire District 14 a property tax increase is leading by just three votes.
"I expect all the races to be decided (today)," said Scott Konopasek, election manager for the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
A little more than 5,000 of the remaining absentee votes are from the 21st District, which includes Mukilteo, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Woodway and a small part of Mountlake Terrace, Konopasek said.
"Generally speaking, the absentee trends stay the same," Konopasek said. "I expect it to get close in the 21st District."
Wilson held an early lead after 50,000 absentees were counted at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Sullivan was about 2 percentage points behind, but he overtook Wilson when votes cast at the polls that day were counted.
Wilson would have to do at least as well in the new absentee batch if he hopes to surpass Sullivan. That means rolling up 30 percent or more of the votes in the race, which also includes Marine and two minor-party candidates.
In the Lynnwood mayoral race, nearly 1,500 ballots will be counted today, likely deciding which of three candidates face off in November.
Five people filed for the open seat. Mike McKinnon had the lead on election night, but Jim Smith and Don Gough both are within 142 votes of McKinnon.
"It’s still a tossup for all three positions," Konopasek said. Although McKinnon has a 126-vote lead on Smith, "He’s not out of the woods yet."
In the Stanwood area, Fire Protection District 14’s property tax levy increase was passing by just three votes. The auditor will count 470 absentee votes from that district today.
In the Arlington area, Lisa Lamie will go on to the general election, but 40 absentee votes will determine whether Gail Moffett or Larry Bell advance in a bid for Fire Protection District 25 commissioner. Moffett and Bell were only two votes apart Tuesday.
Automatic recounts come for candidates who finish within one-half of 1 percent of each other. There’s no automatic recount for issues.
The primary will wind up with about a 30 percent turnout. Only half of the 150,000 people who received absentee ballots sent them in, and only 13.4 percent of registered voters showed up at the polling places, Konopasek said.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
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