Gilday-Shavers tight election means recount needed

Democratic challenger Clyde Shavers holds a 162 vote and 0.22% margin in the state legislative district 10 State Representative Position 1 contest against State Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island).

An estimated 260 votes will be counted by Nov. 29 in the three county district when the Island, Skagit and Snohomish County election offices certify their respective election results. There will be a mandatory recount since after the final count less than 0.5% of the total number of votes cast separates the candidates.

Shavers gained 25 total votes in Wednesday’s vote count. He increased his lead by gaining 46 votes in Island County. In LD 10 precincts, Gilday picked up 19 out of 82 votes in Skagit County and two of 14 cast in Snohomish County LD 10 precincts.

Shavers winning by almost 3,100 votes in Island County, 53.5%, and some 1,200 votes, 56.5%, in Skagit County provided the margin. Gilday took 59.2% of the Snohomish County ballots, winning that county by around 4,150 votes.

The 10th legislative district covers Island County, the southwestern portion of Skagit County and the northeast corner of Snohomish County.

Corrin Hamburg has won the Position 3 Public Utility District Commissioner race with 51% of the vote against incumbent Germaine Kornegay, the other closest result in Skagit County.

State Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) has been reelected to the LD 10 Position 2. He has 52.1% and leads by almost 3,150 votes districtwide. In Skagit County Paul, has taken 59.1%, an advantage of 1,720 votes.

Skagit County offices

Danny Hagen will replace his retiring boss, Dave Thomas, to become county assessor. Hagen has 54.5% of the vote against Karrie Storle. Lisa Janicki wins reelection as a county commissioner, with 57.6% over Christian Burns. Sandy Perkins will return as auditor, with 54% over Eric Hull. Sheriff Don McDermott retains his job, beating Kevin Ewing with 62.9% of the vote.

All unopposed Skagit county officeholders won re-election, as did the three state Supreme Court justices.

Federal and statewide

U.S. Senator Patty Murray handily won re-election. Statewide, she has 57.2% of the vote against Republican Tiffany Smiley. In Skagit County she has 51.8.%.

Congressman Rick Larsen will win with over 60.1% of the vote in the 2nd Congressional District. In Skagit County he gained 53.3% of the vote against Dan Matthews.

Steve Hobbs has been elected Secretary of State with 49.8% of the statewide vote against Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson, but Anderson will win Skagit County by over 1,9 00 votes. She is up by three percentage points, with 48% of the vote. The Republican write-in has 7.4% of the vote. Hobbs has 44.6% of county votes.

Winning candidates in all other Skagit County and statewide elections have long been decided since the Nov. 8 election except for the final totals.

Skagit County election staff estimate some 57,200 residents will vote, 67% of the county’s registered voters. Statewide the turnout will be about 63%. Island, San Juan and Whatcom counties had turnouts above 70%.

Counties will certify their vote Tuesday, Nov. 29 and the Secretary of State’s office by Dec. 8.