Gadzooks! The election results are in!Out of 96,000 ballots cast in this year's general election, and with 40,000 left to count, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner is losing in her bid to be the first mayor re-elected since the 1970s.
With almost 20,600 votes, David Condon is besting Verner by close to 2,000 votes. Verner has fewer than 18,800 votes in her favor.
In the Spokane City Council races, Ben Stuckart is leading former Mayor Dennis Hession 53 percent to 47 percent for council president. Stuckart has more than 20,000 votes. Hession, who was also once council president, has about 17,500 votes.
In District 1, on Spokane's northeast side, Mike Fagan is beating Donna McKereghan by fewer than 400 votes. In District 2, in the south of Spokane, former Councilman Mike Allen is beating incumbent Richard Rush by fewer than 300 votes. And, finally, in District 3, Steve Salvatori is trouncing Joy Jones by 1,200 votes.
Envision Spokane's Bill of Rights is too close to call right now. Only 115 votes out of 38,000 have it losing.
In a countywide vote, voters have seemingly rejected a proposal for regional animal control. About 10,000 more voters were against the idea than for it.
Statewide, Tim Eyman's latest initiative regarding toll roads is losing 51-49, separated by about 25,000 votes. And voters apparently are thirsty: I-1183, which would do away with the state's liquor stores, is passing by a wide margin, 60-40.
Remember, this is just the first drop of ballots, meaning there are plenty to count. But for now, it looks like voters are still hankering for something new in their government.
Check out Inlander.com/election2011 for full coverage of the election, including a precinct-by-precinct breakdown of who's leading and who's trailing.
