The initial results of the 2015 General Election have begun to paint a picture of what the new Yakima City Council will look like. The Yakima County Auditor’s office conducts only one count of ballots on election night and, consequently, issues just one set of returns. Yakima County uses an all-mail-in voting system, so ballots that are postmarked before midnight on November 3rd will still be considered valid for the General Election.
Tonight’s first count includes all ballots received through Monday, which will represent about 20% of the ballots that have been issued. Ballots received today and over the next few days will be included in subsequent counts. The Auditor’s office has estimated the final turnout will be in the neighborhood of 36% to 38%.
In Yakima City Council District 1, Dulce Gutiérrez leads Russell Montiero 81.82% (252 votes) to 14.61% (45 votes).
Avina Gutiérrez has 61.08% of the vote (215 votes) in District 2 compared to Maud Scott’s 38.64% (136 votes).
In District 3, Carmen Méndez leads Kelly Rosenow 51.38% (597 votes) to 47.25% (549 votes).
Incumbent Councilmember Bill Lover has garnered 61.79% of the vote (498 votes) in District 4 while challenger Tony Sandoval has brought in 36.85% (297 votes).
Current Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey has built a significant lead over Reed Pell in District 5. Coffey has been supported by 62.76% of voters (868 votes) while Pell has pulled in 36.95% (511 votes).
Incumbent Councilmember Maureen Adkison’s lead over her challenger, Gavin Keefe, in District 6 is 56.89% (1,292 votes) to 41.92% (952 votes) after tonight’s initial count.
Holly Cousens and Gunnar Berg were the only two candidates to file for the District 7 seat, so no Primary Election was held for their race. After the first count of General Election ballots, Cousens has 58.16% of the vote (1,001 votes) compared to Berg’s 40.96% (705 votes).
A ballot measure to continue a 3/10ths of 1% sales tax throughout Yakima County to fund public safety efforts is being supported by 73.30% of voters (15,060 votes) and opposed by 26.05% (5,304 votes).
The 2015 General Election also features city council races in Yakima County’s 13 other cities and towns as well as mayor races in Grandview, Granger, Harrah, Moxee, Naches, Selah, Tieton, and Wapato. Seats on special purpose district boards, such as school districts, fire district, and port districts, are also up for election. School district bond measures in East Valley, Toppenish, and Zillah are on the ballot this time around and the Selah Parks and Recreation District is asking voters to approve funding for a new aquatics facility.
Two statewide initiatives and four statewide advisory votes are also on the ballot. To see the entire Yakima County general election ballot look on the County Auditor’s website at yakimacounty.us.
So far, turnout in Yakima County for the 2015 General Election is just over 19%. Of the 108,263 ballots issued, 20,980 have been returned.
Additional ballot counts will be conducted over the next few days. Ballot counts will continue periodically until all of the ballots that were received before the midnight November 3rd deadline have been tabulated. The 2015 General Election will be certified on November 24th.
2015 General Election Returns – News Release