Sultan council race recount breaks tie

Herald staff

Incumbent Sultan City Council member Cindy Broughton apparently will retain her seat.

The final election tally resulted in a tie, but a recount Friday gave Broughton a five-vote edge over challenger Rob Criswell.

The final vote was 487 to 482, said Bob Terwilliger, county auditor. The new vote total included one more vote that mistakenly wasn’t counted earlier, Terwilliger said.

Criswell has indicated he will request yet another recount, this time by hand. He will have to post a deposit of 25 cents per ballot cast in the race by close of business Wednesday, Terwilliger said.

Broughton said she is pleased with the outcome and thinks a recount won’t change anything.

"I was there, and I watched as they counted the votes today," she said. "I’m satisfied that these are the true numbers."

And she said Criswell congratulated her Friday.

If there is another recount, it will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Terwilliger said.

In another close race requiring a recount, John McClintock increased his lead over Steven Towers in a race for Snohomish Fire District 4 commissioner Position 1. The final tally was 2,091 for McClintock and 2,076 for Towers, Terwilliger said.