Benzel leads district court race in initial polls

The Nov. 4 initial ballot count showed Carolyn Benzel with a slight advantage in the District Court Judge race over current incumbent, Adalia A. Hille. With a margin of 30 votes, the race remains too close to be determined in the initial count, and has a chance to be swayed as more ballots are counted in the upcoming days.

Benzel received 51.13 percent and 631 votes, while Hille earned 48.87 percent and 603 votes.

The Adams County Hospital District No. 2 bond had 61.82 percent of voters in favor of the bond, showing the bond passing after the first count. The bond measure for modernization and renovations at the hospital requires a super-majority of 60 percent to pass.

In the District No. 3 County Commissioner race, incumbent Jeff Stevens has retained his position as commissioner, receiving 58.45 percent of votes over his opponent Jessie “Weno” Dominguez who received 41.55 percent of votes.

Adams County recorded a voter turnout of 40.24 percent, with a total of 2,506 ballots counted on Tuesday night. The second ballot count occurred on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday night, an estimated 700 ballots were left to count countywide.

Election Results Votes Percent

Ritzville District Court Judge

Adalia A. Hille 603 48.87

Carolyn Benzel 631 51.13

Hospital District 2 Bond

Approved 748 61.82

Rejected 462 38.18

Adams County Commissioner District 3

Jeff Stevens 1,339 58.45

Jessie Dominguez 952 41.55

Benge School District 122 – M&O Levy

Approved 19 95

Rejected 1 5

Adams County Fire District 4 – M&O Levy

Approved 7 100

Adams County Cemetery District 3 – M&O Levy

Approved 179 70.2

Rejected 76 29.8

Congressional District 4 – U.S. Representative

Clint Didier 1,370 58.67

Dan Newhouse 965 41.33

Initiative Measure No. 1351 – K-12 Education

Yes 1,119 46.8

No 1,272 53.20

Initiative Measure No. 591 – Firearms

Yes 1,457 61.12

No 927 38.88

Initiative Measure No. 594 – Firearm sales, transfers

Yes 1,059 43.74

No 1,362 56.26

Advisory Vote No. 8 – Marijuana excise tax

Repealed 1,383 61.14

Maintained 879 38.86

Advisory Vote No. 9 – Excise tax on tribal property

Repealed 1,298 59.19

Maintained 895 40.81

Legislative District 9 State Representative Pos. 1

Susan Fagan 1,892 98.49

Legislative District 9 State Representative Pos. 2

Joe Schmick 1,858 98.31

Adams County Assessor

Sherri Brewer 1,946 99.18

Adams County Auditor

Heidi Hunt 1,940 98.88

Adams County Clerk

Susan Kirkendall 1,942 99.03

Adams County Prosecutor

Randy J. Flyckt 1,739 96.77

Adams County Sheriff

John W. Hunt 1,863 97.08

Adams County Treasurer

Laura Danekas 1,906 98.71

Adams County Superior

Court Judge

Steve B. Dixon 1,690 98.54

Othello District Court Judge

Gary J. Brueher 931 98.41

State Supreme Court

Justice Pos. 1

Mary Yu 1,588 98.68

Supreme Court Justice Pos. 3

Mary Fairhurst 1,600 99.19

Supreme Court Justice Pos. 4

Eddie Yoon 439 23.06

Charles Johnson 1,452 76.26

Supreme Court Justice Pos. 7

Debra Stephens 1,482 76.63

John Scannell 442 22.85