The E-911 ballot measure to improve emergency services communications infrastructure across Grays Harbor County passed with overwhelming support.
The countywide measure, which needed a simple majority to pass, has the backing of more than 63 percent of the voters after the latest count Friday night. More than 10,250 voters back the measure with fewer than 6,000 opposing it. There are about 3,300 ballots left to count.
Sales tax in the county will go up one-tenth of one percent to pay for improvements, including installing new radio towers, that would cost around $8 million, according to one estimate. The emergency services infrastructure upgrades would benefit the Grays Harbor Communications Center which runs the countywide E-911 dispatching.
GHCC services 30 agencies across the county. The only two fire, EMS or law enforcement agencies that operate in the county not serviced by GHCC are the Washington State Patrol and the Chehalis Tribal Police Department.
Brenda Cantu, of executive director of GHCC, said she is very grateful to the residents of Grays Harbor for passing this and is looking forward to getting to work on it.
MONTESANO
Montesano Councilman Dave Skaramuca won re-election with almost 57 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 1,000 ballots had been counted as of Friday night. Skaramuca was leading 564-722.
ELMA
Mike Cooper and Jim Taylor both lead in their races for Elma City Council.
Cooper’s 224 votes, or 54.63 percent, leads Charles Butterfield’s 183 votes in the race for the Position 4 seat.
“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’m not disappointed. I’m not happy. I’m just neutral,” Butterfield said.
The race for the Position 5 seat is a little closer. Taylor has 51.52 percent or 221 votes to Josh Collette’s 205 votes.
“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.”
COSMOPOLIS
Kyle Pauley will be the new mayor of Cosmopolis. But right now, he’s more focused on the municipal building election, which is very close, than he is on his race.
“I’m more concerned about the municipal building and seeing if that gets to the 60 percent that we need,” he said. “It could change.”
His opponent, Steve Davis, doesn’t see the outcome of the mayoral race changing.
“I really don’t anticipate the race tightening up. But I’m going to hold out some hope,” he said. “Pauley did run a good campaign. He’s a sharp guy and a capable person. I don’t hold any ill will or grudge toward Kyle.”
Pauley is leading Davis 314 votes to 203 votes as of Friday night’s count. Across the county, there are about 3,300 votes left to tally. There’s no way to be sure how many of those are from Cosmopolis.
It looks as if one of the first problems Pauley will have to deal with as mayor will be what to do about the city buildings’ lack of compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act laws and a lack of space.
The bond measure that would have funded a new City Hall, court and police station building, while still too close to call, is not getting enough votes to pass the 60% supermajority requirement.
The measure, which would provide $3 million to be paid off over 20 years, has 59.58 percent of the vote. It needs 60 percent. The current vote tally is 311 approving versus 211 against.
On election night, the measure had 58 percent of the vote approving it.
In the other contested race in Cosi, Candice Makos has beaten Kelsey Davis and will become a member of the Cosmopolis City Council. Makos has 336 votes to Davis’ 134.
