"Largent declares victory"

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Whitman County officials release updated results from general election

Republican Michael Largent has declared victory in his race to become Whitman County commissioner District 3.

Whitman County election officials released unofficial results from the general election Tuesday after counting an additional 2,500 ballots.

Debbie Hooper, Whitman County elections supervisor, said there are about 500 ballots left to be counted. Ballots that could not be identified or had other issues will be considered by the canvass board Nov. 27. Hooper expects the election to be certified Nov. 28.

The latest count gave Largent a total of 6,671 votes (58 percent). Democrat Nathan Weller received 4,779 votes (42 percent).

“There are still some odds and ends to figure that are trickling in, but at this point it’s clear who won,” Largent said. “It was pretty clear after the second count, but we had to make sure.”

Weller said he would be giving Largent a call this week to congratulate him on his victory. He said he delayed the call to make sure everyone knew their vote counted.

“If I had thrown in the towel it would have shown those voters that I did not give credence to their votes,” Weller said.

Largent said he’s started to meet with county employees and other elected officials to better understand the bureaucracy.

He said he plans to attend a training seminar for newly elected officials in Olympia next month.

Weller said he wants to stay involved and plans to be a major figure in the county.

In the county’s other contested race, Whitman County Auditor Eunice Coker received 7,466 votes (63 percent) in her bid for re-election. Democratic challenger Nathan Horter received 4,379 votes (37 percent).

Republican Steve Hailey received 22,211 votes (61.5 percent) in his state representative District 9, Position 1 race against Democrat Caitlin Ross, who garnered 13,923 votes (38.5 percent).

The city of Pullman’s Proposition 1 was approved by 3,850 voters (72.4 percent) and rejected by 1,467 voters (27.6 percent).

Congratulations to both Michael and Nathan.