EVERETT — For most of the candidates who ran in local races this year, the election is finally, officially, over.
For six other candidates in three tight city council races, it won’t be over for more than another week.
Election results were certified Tuesday, county elections manager Garth Fell said. Automatic recounts are scheduled for races in Lynnwood, Monroe and Mukilteo where the difference between the candidates is one-half of 1 percent or less.
In Monroe, City Council contender Jim Kamp leads former councilman Mitch Ruth by one vote, 1,575-1,574. In Lynnwood, longtime Councilman Jim Smith is trailing challenger Van AuBuchon by 12 votes, while in Mukilteo, Councilwoman Emily Vanderwielen leads challenger Terry Preshaw by 19 votes.
The Monroe and Lynnwood races will be counted by hand because the margin of difference is less than one-fourth of 1 percent, Fell said. In Mukilteo, the difference is slightly greater and the recount will be done by machine.
The hand recounts are scheduled for Dec. 7 and the machine recount for Dec. 8, Fell said. The canvassing board, a three-member committee of county officials, will meet Dec. 9 to discuss and possibly certify the results.
Any candidate may request a recount, regardless of the margin of victory, but must pay a deposit of 25 cents per ballot for a hand recount and 15 cents per ballot for a machine recount. If the recount changes the outcome of the election, the deposit is refunded.
Candidates have until Friday to request a recount. So far, none have done so, Fell said.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
