Bloglander

Spokane Valley

Valley voters kicked out appointed state Sen. Jeff Baxter yesterday in favor of Mike Padden, a former district court judge. The margin there was 53 percent for Padden and 43 percent for Baxter.

In the City Council races, incumbent Dean Grafos has taken 55 percent of the vote over his challenger, John Carroll, who has garnered about 43 percent so far.

Arne Woodard, another appointed councilman, is beating challenger Dee Dee Loberg with 52 percent of the vote to her 47 percent.

Chuck Hafner, an incumbent who is running unopposed, took 95 percent of the vote. The other five percent opted for write-in candidates.

The race between council newcomers Ben Wick and Marilyn Cline is a nail-biter. Wick has garnered 7,098 votes, 20 more then Cline's. Only the upcoming 6 pm results update will solve this cliffhanger.

Coeur d'Alene

Ten candidates competed for three open seats in Coeur d'Alene, with the future of McEuen Field being a defining issue of the race.

With 53 percent of the vote, author Dan Gookin triumphed over five others vying for open council seat No. 3, including State Rep. George Sayler. Gookin opposes the field renovation.

Steve Adams, a Reagan Republican and critic of the renovation, defeated incumbent councilman John Bruning with 57 percent of the vote, compared with Bruning's 32 percent.

Despite questions around the city's employment of his grandchildren, incumbent councilman Ron Edinger was re-elected decisively with 67 percent of the vote over challenger Adam Graves. Edinger is also a renovation opponent.