A couple of first-time office seekers and a former water district commissioner were on their way to winning seats on local specialty district boards, according to Tuesday’s early election results.
In the Alderwood Water District, former commissioner Laren “Larey” McLaren of the Mays Pond area south of Mill Creek appeared to have won a return to the board of commissioners, getting close to 58 percent of the early returns in his race against Carol Gilbert of Mountlake Terrace.
“I’m very grateful for that,” McLaren said, “but it is still early.”
Nonetheless, McLaren was optimistic the early results will hold and he will return to a board he served on from 1999 to 2001 as an appointed representative.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a job I really enjoyed doing and working with people I have a great deal of respect for.”
Also, in Alderwood Water District, Larry Jones was unopposed in his bid to retain position 4.
In the Silver Lake Water District, newcomer Anne Backstrom of Everett was leading fellow newcomer Alayna Martin, also of Everett. Backstrom had 51.31 percent of the early returns. The two were vying to replace incumbent Roger Summy, who opted not to run for re-election.
“I’m very optimistic,” Backstrom said late Tuesday. “I’m up past my bedtime right now. I thought I’d know more right now, but I’m going to go to bed, have pleasant dreams and then get up at 4:30 a.m. and check the results.”
In Snohomish County Fire District 1, David Chan and Christopher Glenn, both of Lynnwood, were vying to replace Joan Miller of Edmonds on the board of commissioners. In that race, Chan held a slight lead over Glenn with 51.91 percent of the vote. Chan first learned of his lead from a reporter.
“That’s good,” Chan said. “I’m very happy. I did a lot of work and had a lot of support. My neighbors put out signs for me and I hope the exposure worked.”
In Snohomish County Fire District 7, which includes the city of Mill Creek, the district’s tax levy renewal easily passed, getting 56.5 percent approval. It will keep the levy rate at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
In addition, District 7 Commission incumbents Don Andrew and Gunther Hausmann, both of Snohomish, were unopposed and will each serve another six-year term.
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