Close races, including for Everett mayor: 7-vote difference

It could be a while before final results are known for many local elections.

by Rikki King and Caitlin Tompkins
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 6:02pm
Local News Election 2017 Everett

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EVERETT — The Everett mayor’s race managed to get even closer Wednesday evening.

Judy Tuohy led Cassie Franklin by seven votes in updated ballot tallies. Tuohy had 4,804 votes, or 44.6 percent of ballots counted so far. Franklin had 44.53 percent.

The next round of results is expected Thursday. About 6,700 ballots remain to be counted for Everett, according to the Snohomish County elections officials.

Elsewhere in the county, incumbent mayors were beating their challengers in Lynnwood, Monroe and Mukilteo. In Snohomish, former Mayor Karen Guzak was trailing newcomer John Kartak, who had nearly 51 percent. In Marysville, two incumbent City Council members apparently have been unseated.

The Everett race has captured regional attention. The county’s largest city is getting a new mayor for the first time since 2003, and its first elected woman mayor.

Tuohy, 63, is in her third year on the City Council. She is the executive director of the Schack Art Center.

Franklin, 46, was elected to the council in 2015. She recently stepped down as CEO of the nonprofit Cocoon House to focus on her campaign.

Everett business owner Gary Watts had conducted a write-in campaign. Write-in candidates garnered nearly 11 percent of counted votes. Based on early election results, his votes are unlikely to be tallied.

Council incumbents Paul Roberts, Jeff Moore and Scott Murphy all were beating challengers. Similar patterns were holding for Snohomish County councilmen Nate Nehring, Sam Low and Terry Ryan.

County-wide, 90,406 ballots have been counted. About 56,000 remain.

Snohomish

In Snohomish, a battle for the town’s new strong mayor remains too close to call.

Guzak closely followed Kartak with almost 49 percent.

The difference is 39 votes.

Kartak, 52, was among those who pushed voters to adopt a strong mayor form of government after more than 45 years. He is a semi-retired contractor.

Guzak, 78, tried to preserve the current structure that she believed was working well. She was first elected to the City Council in 2008, and appointed as mayor two years later. She served in that capacity for seven years until she stepped down in February.

An elected mayor is expected to be sworn in as soon as the votes are certified.

North county

In the Marysville council races, Mark James, a local businessman, was leading Donna Wright, who has been on the council for 24 years. Fellow challenger Tom King remained ahead of Jeff Seibert, who has been on the council for 16 years. James has said he wants to seek council term limits.

In Arlington, challenger Joshua Roundy was easily defeating longtime council incumbent Chris Raezer. Incumbent Jesica Stickles was leading her race against Craig Christianson.

A 2016 domestic-violence misdemeanor didn’t derail the political career of Arlington hospital commissioner Timothy Cavanagh. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges after being accused of burglary and stalking his ex-girlfriend. He was counting 70.8 percent of ballots cast Wednesday, compared to a challenger’s 28.7 percent.

South county

Mukilteo City Council President Bob Champion was beating controversial aerospace executive Peter Zieve with 65.8 percent. South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue commissioner David Chan was just three votes behind challenger Michael Ellis.

A levy for a new Mountlake Terrace City Hall also appeared to be passing. In Lynnwood council races were trending for Christine Frizzell and incumbents Ian Cotton and Ruth Ross.

Information from The Marysville Globe, a sister publication of The Daily Herald, is included in this report.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.