Hille certified as Ritzville District Court Judge

In one of the closest contested candidate races in Adams County history, Adalia A. Hille officially retains her position as Ritzville District Court Judge. Judge Hille won the General Election race by seven votes against her opponent Carolyn Benzel.

The Adams County Canvassing Board of Elections conducted a ballot recount by hand on Dec. 3 to officially bring the Nov. 4 General Election race to a close.

The hand recount produced the exact same results as the initial count, with Hille securing 791 votes and Benzel receiving 784.

The hand recount took nearly three hours and was conducted in the Superior Court Room in the afternoon of Dec. 3.

Four counters, two observers and two certifiers participated in the count, with Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt and a representative from the Office of the State Secretary overseeing the count.

The event was open to the public with only one individual present in the audience to witness the ballot count.

Broken down by precincts, Benzel won the five Ritzville Wards with 346 votes compared to 302 votes for Hille. Benzel also won the Ritzville Rural Wards with 162 votes to 137 votes cast for Hille.

Benzel also won in the Schrag and Batum districts.

Hille secured a significant win in the Washtucna City and Rural Wards, receiving 114 votes collectively compared to 48 votes cast for Benzel. Hille also received the victory within the Lind Town and Rural Wards, with a slight victory of 133 votes to Benzel’s 126.

Her success continued in the outlying districts, as Hille went on to win in Benge, Ralston and Fairview.

With the final tally producing the same results, Hille was certified as the official winner following the recount.

Hille and Benzel were unable to attend the ballot recount on Dec. 3, but both sent representatives to observe the count for them.

This is the first contested race during Hille’s 23 years as Ritzville District Court Judge.

Hille said this victory is one of her greatest achievements in her professional career, as well as in her personal life.

This year’s General Election produced a voter turnout of 56.16 percent countywide.