Rob Toyer (left) and Brian Sullivan                                Rob Toyer (left) and Brian Sullivan

Rob Toyer (left) and Brian Sullivan

Leads widen in close races with many ballots left to count

Officials say turnout could reach 41 percent. They still have close to half the ballots to tally.

EVERETT — A tight race for Snohomish County treasurer eased slightly Wednesday while the mayor of Arlington gained a little breathing room in her re-election bid following a second round of ballot counting.

Rob Toyer saw his lead on Brian Sullivan grow to 1,064 votes in their duel for the treasurer’s job. Toyer, a Marysville councilman, led Sullivan, a Snohomish County councilman, by 715 votes in the initial election results.

“It is still a tight margin. The increase wasn’t large enough for a trend,” said Sullivan, a former state lawmaker and Mukilteo mayor. “Tomorrow the outcome might become clearer.”

In Arlington, Mayor Barb Tolbert has a 34-vote advantage on challenger Don Vanney, Jr., up from the 27 votes which separated them Tuesday night.

“Me and my team are cautiously optimistic tonight,” she said Wednesday. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve had in Arlington and hope that the voters recognize that.”

As of Wednesday, about 95,000 ballots had been counted. Snohomish County election officials estimate there are roughly 95,000 more to count. The next updated vote count will be issued Thursday afternoon.

In a closely watched battle for Sullivan’s council seat, Democrat Megan Dunn leads Republican Anna Rohrbough, 52.3 to 47.5%. For Dunn, that’s an improvement from Tuesday when she had 51.6%. At stake is a four-year term serving District 2, which covers the Everett, Mukilteo and Tulalip areas.

In Lake Stevens, there was a change of leaders in a race for a city council position.

Rauchel McDaniel, who is trying to keep her seat, fell eight votes behind challenger Anji Jorstad. McDaniel led by 17 votes election night.

And Shawn Frederick leads Steve Ewing for an open seat, 51.5% to 48%. On Tuesday, Frederick had 50.6% and only a 45-vote advantage.

In Mukilteo, Riaz Khan held a 24-vote lead on Christopher Maddux in their contest for the Position 5 seat on the city council. That’s up from the 12-vote advantage Khan held on election night.

David Simpson and Bruce Fingarson are in a tight contest for a seat on the Port of Everett commission. Simpson, with 50.5%, had a 173-vote lead on Fingarson Wednesday, down from the 228-vote edge in the initial election tally.

Meanwhile, Referendum 88, which seeks to bring back the use of affirmative action by the state in hiring, college admissions and contracting, was being rejected by 51.4 % of voters statewide. That’s a slightly smaller percentage than Tuesday. However, of the roughly 500,000 ballots left to count statewide, an estimated 277,000 are in King County where nearly 61% are backing it.

Finally, with passage of Initiative 976 clear, opponents are heading to court to keep it from taking effect.

The ballot measure conceived by Tim Eyman caps the cost of most car tab fees at $30 and aims to erase the motor vehicle excise tax collected by Sound Transit. It had 55.2% support statewide Wednesday. In Snohomish County, it is passing with 60.8%.

On Wednesday, in separate announcements, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced plans to sue to block its implementation.

In the meantime, the Sound Transit Board of Directors will discuss financial and legal ramifications at its Nov. 21 meeting.

“The Board will consider Sound Transit’s obligations to taxpayers who want their motor vehicle excise taxes reduced, as well as how to realize voters’ earlier direction to dramatically expand high capacity transit throughout the Puget Sound region,” chairman John Marchione said in a statement.

Election results are due to be certified Nov. 26.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

For the latest countywide results, visit www.heraldnet.com/news/2019-general-election-results-for-snohomish-county.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

The inside of Johnson’s full-size B-17 cockpit he is building on Sept. 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett man builds B-17 replica in his garage

Thatcher Johnson spent 3 years meticulously recreating the cockpit of a World War II bomber.

A parent walks their children to class at Whittier Elementary on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates ‘Blue Ribbon’ award as feds cancel program

The Department of Education canceled the award weeks before Whittier Elementary was set to receive it. No Everett public school had won it in over four decades.

Two workers walk past a train following a press event at the Lynnwood City Center Link Station on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Sound Transit weighs possible savings on Everett Link extension

Amid rising costs, the agency could adjust the early design of the Everett Link plan. The proposed changes would not remove stations or affect service levels.

The Washington State University Everett campus on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett allocates funding toward north Broadway bridge design

The $2.5 million in grant dollars will pay for the design of a long-awaited pedestrian bridge near Everett Community College.

Cali Weber, a marine biology intern for Surface Water Management, scoops the top layers of sand into a sample bag that will be analyzed for forage fish eggs at Picnic Point Park on Sept. 23, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Why scientists search for fish eggs

Data from the fish spawning sites act as a barometer of marine ecosystem health.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish County Council approves North Lake annexation agreement

Residents of the North Ridge neighborhood wanted to be removed from the urban growth area.

Everett businesses join forces to promote downtown nightlife

A group of downtown businesses will host monthly events as a way to bring more people to the city’s core during late nights.

Everett women steal $2.5K of merchandise, including quinceanera dress, police say

The boutique owner’s daughter reported the four females restrained her and hit her with their car while fleeing.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
DNR transfers land to Stillaguamish Tribe for salmon restoration

The transfer includes three state land trust parcels along the Stillaguamish River totaling just under 70 acres.

Eagle Scout project connects people with deceased loved ones

Michael Powers, 15, built a wind phone in Arlington’s Country Charm Park for those who are grieving.

Traffic moves around parts of the roundabout at the new I-5/SR529 interchange on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WSDOT opens $123m Marysville interchange, ramps

Officials built the new interchange and ramps with the goal of relieving traffic along the congested corridor between Everett and Marysville.

Two troopers place a photo of slain Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd outside district headquarters about 12 hours after Gadd was struck and killed in a crash on southbound I-5 on March 2 in Marysville. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
One More Stop targets drunk driving this weekend in honor of fallen trooper

Troopers across multiple states will be patrolling from 4 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.