The bulk of the races from Tuesday’s general election have been decided after 9,249 more ballots were counted Friday, leaving an estimated 1,500 ballots still to be counted in the election.
One race that remains too close to call is for Evergreen school board, where libertarian candidate Daniel Poletti is just 75 votes behind District 1 incumbent Julie Bocanegra. The margin between the two candidates is 0.39 of a percentage point, with Poletti getting 49.31 percent of the vote to Bocanegra’s 49.7 percent.
If the race remains this tight after the remaining ballots are tallied, it would trigger a mandatory recount under state law. Elections officials must recount races that are fewer than 2,000 votes and less than 0.5 of a percentage point apart.
A county advisory vote asking voters if they would like to see a toll-free bridge placed west of the current Interstate 5 bridge also remains close. That vote sits with 50.11 percent against and 49.89 percent in favor after the Friday night count.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said the issue will not head to recount, as local issues are not included in the mandatory recount rules.
At least two candidates for the Vancouver city council had conceded their races to their opponents as of Friday night.
Councilor Bill Turlay, who was challenging incumbent Mayor Tim Leavitt, announced his concession Thursday. He later sent an email to Leavitt congratulating him on his win and stating that he looked forward to working with the mayor on the council. Leavitt responded to Turlay, saying he hopes the two could grab a cup of coffee soon to discuss city priorities.
Frank Decker also conceded to his opponent, Anne McEnerny-Ogle, this week. Friday, Decker said he had sent McEnerny-Ogle an email conceding and wishing her well.
Messages left for Jeanne Stewart, who lost her bid for reelection to council, and Micheline Doan, who lost her bid to unseat incumbent Jack Burkman, were unreturned as of Friday night.
No freeholder races flipped from where they stood before the Friday count, but one race remains close, with Randy Mueller ahead of Patricia Reyes by 52 votes.
Kimsey said that race does not currently meet the criteria to require a recount.
