The first round of election night numbers were posted on the King County Elections website a few minutes after 8 p.m. Tuesday bringing a few sighs of relief and some raised eyebrows.
For relief, the Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety levy lift was passing with 57 percent. A simple majority is required for approval. The proposition comes on the heels of the fire benefit charge measure on the August ballot that went down in smoke. The fire district stated if the levy lift did not pass serious cutbacks would result. With the levy passing the district stated it will be able to maintain critical services.
Three of the most hard-fought races were in Black Diamond with the mayor and two City Council seats up for grabs. The races were focused on the Oakpointe master planned development and the battles between the City Council majority and the mayor over the last two years. The candidates campaigning against the development were all losing. Incumbent Mayor Carol Benson was cruising to victory with 67 percent of the vote over Judy Baxley with 32 percent. Council candidates Melissa C. Oglesbee and Erin Rose Stout each received more than 65 percent in the initial counting.
In the city of Covington contested races, City Council incumbent Joseph T. Cimaomo, Jr was winning over David Lucavish. Paul Selland squeezed ahead of Jennifer Harjehausen for Position No. 2 by 62 votes in the first wave of counting.
The Maple Valley contested City Council races showed the incumbents Dana C. Parnello and Erin M. Weaver easily racing to the winner’s circle.
Ballots will continue to be counted and posted on the King County Elections website each business day at 4 p.m. The election will be certified by the Canvassing Board Nov. 28.
• King County Fire Protection District
43 Proposition No. 1
Approved – 3,008 – 57.16 percent
Rejected – 2,254 – 42.84 percent
• Black Diamond
Mayor
Carol Benson – 611 – 67.14 percent
Judy A. Baxley – 299 – 32.86 percent
City Council Position No. 2
Melissa C. Oglesbee – 631 – 69.8 percent
Michelle Young – 273 – 30.2 percent
City Council Position No. 4
Ed Hanrahan – 296 – 32.39 percent
Erin Rose Stout – 618 67.61 percent
• Covington
City Council Position No. 2
Jennifer Harjehausen – 846 – 48.23 percent
Paul Selland – 90 – 51.77 percent
City Council Position No. 4
Joseph Cimaomo – 1,181 – 69.72 percent
David Lucavish – 513 – 30.28 percent
City Council Position No. 6
Fran Hollums – 1,332
• Maple Valley
City Council Position No. 2
Linda Olson – 2,181
City Council Position No. 4
Erin M. Weaver – 1,737 – 65.28 percent
William Prince – 924 – 34.72 percent
City Council Position No. 6
Dana C. Parnello – 1,671 – 63.49 percent
Richard Axtell – 961 – 36.51 percent
• Port of Seattle
Position No. 1
John Creighton – 129,039 – 51.48 percent
Ryan Calkins – 121,621 – 48.52
Position No. 3
Stephanie Bowman – 169,277 – 66.79
percent
Ahmed Abdi – 84,159 – 33.21 percent
Position No. 4
Peter Steinbrueck – 159,683 – 62.88 percent
Preeti Shridhar – 94,284 – 37.12 percent
• Soos Creek Water And Sewer District
Commissioner
Position No. 1
Steve Pfaff – 9,093
Position No. 2
Alan Eades – 5,973 – 52.78 percent
Merle Reeder – 5,343 – 47.22 percent
• King County
Metropolitan King County Proposition No. 1 Levy Lid Lift for Veterans, Seniors and Vulnerable Populations was approved by 185,133 votes 66.06 percent.
Dow Constantine won Metropolitan King County executive again with 75.4 percent, beating Bill Hirt who received 24.6 percent.
Mitzi Johanknecht was ahead of incumbent John Urquhart with 139,644 votes 51.54 percent for King County sheriff. Urquhart received 129,725 votes 48.16 percent.
King County Councilman Reagan Dunn will retain his District No. 9 seat. He received 18,157 of the votes, 66.57 percent and challenger Denice Carnahan took 9,119 for 33.43 percent.
