The statewide schools measure to increase funding is too close to call, but the gun measures passed in favor of tighter restrictions in the Nov. 4 general election.
Statewide, the school spending measure Initiative 1351 was trailing 604,819 (50.57 percent) to 591,264 (49.43). The gun measures passed easily in favor of gun control with I-591 going down 655,750 (55 percent) to 546,375 (45) while I-594 passed 724,330 (60 percent) to 488,625 (40).
In Snohomish County, 96,417 ballots were counted Tuesday, or 23 percent of the registered voters.
In local measures, Arlington voters shot down the measure to improve their school bus system 2,474 (54 percent) to 2,119 (46) and to fund their fire district 773 (57 percent) to 589 (43). The other fire district measures passed, 1,119 (64 percent) to 637 (36) in District 17 and in District 15 it was 534 (79 percent) to 145 (21)
Incumbents won fairly handily at the federal, state and local levels.
In Snohomish County, Executive John Lovick, a Democrat, kept his spot 51,529 (56 percent) to Sultan Republican Mayor Carolyn Eslick’s 40,351 (44). Sheriff Ty Trenary was re-elected 43,091 (53 percent) to Jim Upton’s 37,830 (46). In District Court, Anthony Howard beat Remy Leonard 11,763 (59 percent) to 8,145 (41). In the nonpartisan Public Utility District race, Dave Aldrich beat Bruce King 41,393 (53 percent) to 36,180 (46). Democratic Prosecutor Mark Roe ran unopposed.
For U.S. Congress, Rick Larsen of Arlington, a Democrat, easily retained his seat over B.J. Guillot, the Republican, 67,812 (62 percent) to 41,889 (38). In this county, the race actually was a little closer, with Guillot receiving almost 40 percent of the vote.
In the state races, incumbents won easily, with Marysville City Council member Rob Toyer, a Republican, putting on one of the closest contests against longtime Democratic state Rep. Hans Dunshee. Toyer lost just 52 percent to 48 percent (9,992 to 9,079). Democrat Mike Wilson put up a good fight against Republican Mark Harmsworth, also losing 52 percent to 48 percent (9,840 to 9,072).
For District 44 senator, Democrat Steve Hobbs received 10,747 votes (57 percent) to 8,244 votes (43) for Jim Kellett, a Republican. June Robinson beat Jesse Anderson by that same margin in the race for state representative, Position 1. Robinson, the Democrat, tallied 8,534 votes (57 percent) to Anderson’s 6,430 (43).
Two of the state legislative races featured Libertarian candidates, rather than one of the major parties. In District 10, Republican Norma Smith beat Libertarian Michael Scott. Smith received 23,459 votes to Scott’s 6,835. And in District 38, Democrat Mike Sells beat Libertarian Elijah Olson. Sells received 9,919 votes to Olson’s 4,563.
The other races affecting the Marysville and Arlington areas also were runaways.
In District 38, incumbent Sen. John McCoy, the Democrat, beat Craig French 9,331 to 5,632. Republican Elizabeth Scott trounced Charles Jensen 10,630 to 6,911. And Republican Dave Hayes whipped Nick Petrish 19,131 to 13,197.
Incumbent Rep. Dan Kristiansen, a Republican, ran unopposed.