EDMONDS — For two Edmonds School Board candidates, the race to win a spot in the general election is down to recount range.
Research scientist Deborah Kilgore led the field for Position 4 on the School Board, with 44 percent of the vote and a sure spot on the November ballot. She seeks to replace Susan Phillips, who did not seek re-election.
Her two competitors, nonprofit operations director Cindy Sackett and piano teacher Cathy Baylor, were separated by 11 votes Wednesday afternoon after the most recent tally. Baylor had the higher number. Each had a bit less than 28 percent of the 22,252 ballots cast in the race.
That narrow margin will trigger a hand recount, Snohomish County elections manager Garth Fell said.
[Latest primary election results]
Though there are some ballots still to be counted, namely those with signature issues, there do not appear to be enough uncounted ballots to budge the Edmonds School Board race out of recount range, Fell said.
A recount can’t begin until after results from the Aug. 1 primary are certified Tuesday. The canvassing board likely will be presented with a proposal next week to schedule the recount. It would take at least a few days to conduct a hand recount, Fell said. Officials try to move as quickly as possible so candidates know whether to keep campaigning and the elections office can put together its November ballot.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no other Snohomish County races appeared to require a recount.
Voter turnout was on track for what election officials expected, at about 24 percent. The average for odd-year elections is 26 percent to 27 percent, but that’s been trending downward over the past few elections, Fell said.
There were no significant changes in Everett mayor’s race, where Cassie Franklin and Judy Tuohy are set to be on the November ballot.
In Marysville, incumbent Donna Wright, with 26 years experience on the City Council, was on track to advance to the general election with 34 percent of the vote. She’ll face off against businessman Mark James, who brought in nearly 37 percent of the vote. Teacher Jason Call, with less than 29 percent, looked to be out of the running.
The primary winnows the number of candidates who will appear on the November ballot seeking seats on the County Council, city councils, fire commissions, school board and the new strong-mayor job in Snohomish. Though results won’t be certified until next week, there are not enough remaining ballots to cause much of a shake-up in any races, Fell said. There likely will be “tens of ballots” with signature issues that need to be checked and counted.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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