By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The fire chief in Mossyrock says he’s on pins and needles watching the numbers coming from yesterday’s election.
It’s the second time Lewis County Fire District 3 has asked voters to approve a bond to build a new station. It failed narrowly in April, and now, the tally is still a bit shy of the 60 percent yes votes needed, according to Chief Doug Fosburg.
When the preliminary results were released last night in the all vote-by-mail election, 244 people had said yes, coming to 58.65 percent. Rejecting the measure were 172 people, or 41.35 percent.
The district ran the proposal again, thinking there would be a better turnout during a general election, Fosburg said.
Local voter turnout overall so far is just over 30 percent, according to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office elections department.
Officials indicate there are an estimated 3,000 ballots left to count from throughout Lewis County, and they will release the results of a second count this afternoon.
The Chehalis Fire Department won’t need to wait for today’s updated numbers as among the nearly 1,000 votes cast for their emergency medical services levy renewal, almost 82 percent of the people voted yes.
It, like other levies on the ballot need only a simple majority to pass.
Another measure with such a wide spread that it looks like a done deal, is the Napavine area fire department’s request for an increase in their fire services levy. Voting no on Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue’s proposal are 65.58 percent.
Lewis County Fire District 11’s fire services levy is passing, with 65.57 of their Pe Ell area voters giving their approval.
A closer vote is Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20’s emergency medical services levy. Voters in the Vader area are supporting it so far with 54.72 percent yes votes.
Three fire districts in Lewis County have contested commissioner positions.
For Lewis County Fire District 15 in Winlock, candidate Jerry Craft got the vote from 64.96 percent of the people, compared with 30.04 percent casting their ballots for Stan Hankins.
For Lewis County Fire District 2 in Toledo, 64.38 percent voted for Mike Thomas, while 35.62 percent want Dale Nielsen.
The race in Lewis County Fire District 8, Salkum is somewhat closer. Candidate Rick Wood took 54.51 percent of the vote while Don Taylor has 45.49 percent.
The election won’t be final and certified until November 24.
Unrelated to the fire service, longtime Morton Police Chief Dan Mortensen who will retire at the end of this year, is running for mayor. The race is uncontested, and 132 votes have been cast for Mortensen.
Updated preliminary results can be found this afternoon at the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, Elections Department, here.
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For background, read “Election Day: Numerous fire departments and candidates seeking support” from Sunday November 1, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter