Brian Shinn ran away with a win in the race for Asotin County commissioner.
Shinn received 67 percent of the vote, outdistancing the 33 percent for Brian Temple. Shinn will replace Commissioner Harold Beggs, who is stepping down for health reasons.
Voters in Clarkston promoted Kathleen Warren from a city councilor to mayor in Tuesday’s election. Warren received 54 percent of the vote, compared to 46 percent, for her opponent, Eric Lindsley. Warren will replace longtime Mayor Donna Engle, who is stepping down after almost 20 years in public office.
In Asotin, Vikki Bonfield ousted longtime mayor Jim Miller for the city’s top job. Bonfield snagged 55 percent of the vote to 45 percent for Miller, who has been in public office for more than two decades, including two terms as mayor.
Asotin City Councilor John Kirkland defeated his challenger, John Laughrey, 60 percent to 40 percent. The other Asotin City Council race between incumbent Keith Delzer and challenger George Tucker was too close to call. As of Tuesday, Delzer had 174 votes to Tucker’s 173.
Levies to fund emergency medical services passed in Asotin, Clarkston and Asotin County. In Asotin and Clarkston, 70 percent said yes to EMS, while in the Asotin County Fire Protection District, 66 percent voted in favor of a six-year levy.
Voter turnout in Asotin County was at 48 percent with 6,144 ballots cast. Auditor Darla McKay expects to count another 500 ballots on Thursday.
Three candidates for open Clarkston City Council positions ran unopposed, including William Provost, and two former councilors, Clee Manchester and Larry Baumberger.
Incumbent Wayne Tippett won a decisive victory in his race for a seat on the Port of Clarkston commission. 68 percent of the votes cast were for Tippett, while his opponent, Dick Coyle, received 32 percent.
The race for an open seat on the Whitman County port commission has Tom Kammerzell leading Al Sorensen, 55 percent to 45 percent.
