Greg Edwards and Bruce James have always been close.

It was fitting, then, that the former La Conner High teammates would see their race for a Swinomish Tribal Senate seat decided by a razor thin margin.

Edwards edged James 151-146 in balloting Saturday at the Swinomish Tribal Community Social Services.

Edwards and James were vying to succeed three-term incumbent Kevin Paul, who had placed third in the tribe’s January primary election.

As one would expect, the Edwards-James race was strictly a positive campaign, including their post-election comments.

After votes were tallied, James immediatel...