Mayor’s race too close to call

The primary election race for Lynnwood mayor is so close county officials could be forced to do an automatic recount in early October.

Snohomish County Auditor Bob Terwilliger said he will know for sure when all of the ballots are counted by next week and the election is certified on Sept. 30.

“At that point of time, we will look at what these total votes are,” Terwilliger said. “That appears to be the only race in the county where we could have a recount.”

Fewer than 60 votes separated incumbent Mayor Mike McKinnon from rivals, City Council members Don Gough and Jim Smith, according to voting results available by The Enterprise deadline. The top two will move on to the Nov. 8 general election.

The tally shows Gough just 58 votes ahead of McKinnon who is just four votes ahead of Smith.

Bill Vance, 50, who sold himself as a political newcomer who could move the city forward, trailed the trio in a distant fourth, netting about 9 percent of the vote by Wednesday morning.

“It is not what I wanted to see,” said Vance, a regional cable maintenance supervisor for Qwest. “But I think we were able to elevate a discussion of the issues instead of the personalities and that makes it a success.”

Gough and McKinnon did not return calls Tuesday night. McKinnon issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that he would not be available for comment.

“No party. No campaigning,” McKinnon wrote. “Just playing with the (grand) kids. And I don’t much feel like talking tonight.”

Smith, who is making his third bid for mayor, noted he lost to Gough in the 2001 primary by 11 votes.

“We have to think positive at this point,” Smith said. “It is obvious that Lynnwood is looking for a change in leadership.”

By law, county officials must recount the ballots by machine if the difference between candidates is less than half of a percent and fewer than 2,000 votes. A recount by hand is required if the difference is less than a quarter of a percent and fewer than 150 votes.

If it happens, a recount could happen as early as the first week of October. A machine recount for a race of this size would take about an hour by machine and about half a day by hand. “We would want to do it as soon as possible so we can prepare for the general election,” Terwilliger said.

McKinnon, a 57-year-old accountant, has had mixed success during his first term as mayor, which is the city’s top administrator and a full-time job. The Lynnwood Convention Center and approval of the City Center redevelopment plan occurred during his tenure. Previously, he served on City Council for 12 years.

McKinnon frequently disagreed with some council members, including Gough and Smith, and was targeted in ethics complaints filed by three residents. McKinnon contended the complaints were politically motivated and that Gough and Smith intentionally made his job difficult.

Gough, a 54-year-old attorney, and Smith, 54, a flight instructor, argued that McKinnon fell down on the job. Gough was elected to the Council in 1995 and served as council president twice. Smith is halfway through his fifth four-year term on the Council.