Montesano
Montesano Councilman Dave Skaramuca looks to be headed to re-election with more than 54 percent of the votes cast in his race against local businesswoman Brooke Chapman-Hoiness.
Of the 2,886 ballots mailed out to registered voters in Montesano, fewer than 500 ballots — about 17 percent of the total registered voters in Monte — had been counted as of Tuesday night. Skaramuca was leading 268-219.
Elma
Mike Cooper and Jim Taylor both have narrow leads in their races for Elma City Council.
Cooper’s 205 votes, or 53.5 percent, leads Charles Butterfield’s 175 votes in the race for the Position 4 seat.
Eighty percent of the ballots either have not been received or have not been counted.
“I’m encouraged by the early lead,” Cooper said. “It’s narrow, but I’m encouraged by the numbers.”
Butterfield had a similar mindset.
“I think it’s kind of early yet,” Butterfield said. “I’m not disappointed. I’m not happy. I’m just neutral.”
The race for the Position 5 seat is a little closer. Taylor has 52.5 percent or 208 votes to Josh Collette’s 185 votes.
“We still got another count coming up here on (Friday), and we’re not going to certify until (Nov. 27),” Taylor said. “Josh has been a gentleman about the whole thing. I think he’s done a great job bringing his ideas to the folks. (If the vote count holds until certification,) I hope we move forward with some of the ideas we will bring forward for the city. It will be a real pleasure to continue to work with the council.”
Collette said he liked the race both he and Taylor ran.
“I’m hoping for a better outcome with later results,” Collette said. “I’m really pround of the campaing that both myself and Jim have done focusing on the issues. And whoever wins will do a great job.”
McCleary
With nearly 60 percent of the vote, Brenda Orffer looks to be headed to re-election as mayor of McCleary.
Orffer is leading with 147 votes to challenger Jeffrey Prowse’s 99. Only 20 percent of the ballots from McCleary’s 1,223 registered voters had been counted as of Tuesday night.
