Sultan election ends in a draw

  • Leslie Moriarty and Kate Reardon / Herald Writers
  • Tuesday, November 20, 2001 9:00pm
  • Local NewsLocal news

By Leslie Moriarty and Kate Reardon

Herald Writers

Nobody can believe it — especially Cindy Broughton.

The winner of her race could come down to the flip of a coin.

Broughton and Rob Criswell are tied in the race for Broughton’s seat on the Sultan City Council, now that the final vote counts are in from the Nov. 6 general election. Each had 496 votes.

The results were released Tuesday. The election will be certified today.

It’s one of two nip-and-tuck local political races that will require an automatic recount next week at public expense. Lots of other races were close, but not close enough for an automatic recount.

The other recount is in the Marysville Fire District 4 commissioner Position 1 race between John McClintock and Steven Towers. Just 11 votes separate the two.

In nail-biting Marysville City Council races, winners included newcomer Tom Grady, who beat Position 1 incumbent Norma Jean Dierck by 161 votes. For Position 3, Jeff Siebert beat challenger John Myers by 67 votes. And Jon Nehring’s victory over Tim Bond was by a mere 29 votes.

Nehring said he’s looking forward to getting busy.

"I think you’ll find the council will be a lot more user-friendly council that wants to move forward," he said. "I think you’re going to see more stuff get done."

Bond could not be reached for comment.

State law requires a recount if the difference between two candidates is less than one-half of 1 percent. Anybody else can request a recount if they pay for it, Snohomish County elections manager Scott Konopasek said. Those making such a request must deposit 15 cents per ballot cast in the race.

All recounts are scheduled for Nov. 29, Konopasek said.

In Sultan, there was disbelief.

"It’s just like, ‘No way,’ " Broughton said Tuesday. "I work at the middle school and the kids at that age are aware of elections and politics. They’ve been asking me every day, ‘Have you won yet?’

"I still don’t have anything to tell them."

Both Criswell and Broughton are incumbents, but Criswell challenged Broughton for her seat on the council.

Criswell did not return telephone calls from The Herald on Tuesday.

Broughton said she thinks a lot of voters were unsure of her.

"I’m an independent thinker," she said. "No one ever really knows how I am going to vote. I’m not with this group or that group, and that scares some people. And maybe they don’t like that I am a woman."

If she serves, she would be the only woman on the Sultan council.

If the recount also ends in a tie, the winner will be decided by a flip of the coin.

"The statue says the winner is determined by lot," Konopasek said. "Traditionally, the way it’s been done in Snohomish County is by a coin toss."

Broughton said: "If that happens and I win, then great. … If not, then I’ll get on with my personal life."

In Monroe, two tight council races became clear when the final 8,500 votes were counted Tuesday.

In a closely watched race between incumbent council member Jim Hunnicutt and Mayor Bob Holman, Hunnicutt increased his lead from 19 votes to 23. He won by exactly 1 percent.

Holman said he hasn’t decided whether he will ask for a recount.

Holman challenged Hunnicutt for his seat on the council rather than running for re-election as mayor in an attempt to knock Hunnicutt off the council.

A second Monroe council race will see Bruce Hansen take the at-large seat. He defeated Verna Korslund by 14 votes.

In Bothell, Jeff Merrill won Position 5 on the city council by 80 votes over challenger Mike Johnson.

Martin Nelson beat Stephanie Wright in the Lynnwood City Council race by 55 votes for Position 2. The position became vacant when council member Ned Daniels ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the primary election.

Herald Writer Jim Haley contributed to this report.

You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436

or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.

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