With all 151 precincts reporting, the fate of the outstanding mail-in ballots might decide a tight race to fill the vacant Position 7 seat on the Federal Way City Council.
Since the incumbents on the seven-member council have demonstrated great success at the polls, the left empty by the resignation of Councilmember Dean McColgan ignited a flurry of interest among would-be candidates seeking a term in City Hall.
Unfortunately for candidates Dini Duclos and Hope Elder, the outcome of last Tuesday's election must wait for a full tally by the King County Elections Canvassing Board on November 27.
Until then, an unofficial count of 46 votes separates them.
According the King County elections web site, Elder currently leads Duclos by a vote count of 3,799 (50.11 percent) to 3,753 (49,51 percent).
The remaining three City Council seats remained filled by their incumbents.
Councilmember Jim Ferrell and Mayor Michael Park ran unopposed, while incumbent Councilmember Jack Dovey defeated challenger Roger Freeman.
Dovey garnered 57.08 percent (4,137 votes) of the ballots, defeating Freeman's 3,083 votes (42.54 percent).
Incumbent William (Bill) Gates will remain South King Fire and Rescue Commissioner. Gates defeated challenger Gary Bollinger by a wide margin, gathering 7,113 (55.14 percent) of the votes. Bollinger tallied 44.56 percent, or 5,749 votes from the district.
In the only contested race in the Lakehaven Utility District Commissioner election, Charles Gibson edged Chris Brown for the unexpired two-year term. Gibson gathered 63.64 percent of the vote (6,146 ballots) to Brown's 3,475 votes (35.98 percent).
Castellar trailing, Smith-Englund race tight
Former Federal Way School Board President Eveyln Castellar finds herself behind in votes to challenger Amye Bronson-Doherty. Bronson-Doherty, who currently holds 53.41 percent of the votes (5,887) for the District 3 position, received the critical endorsement from the Federal Way Education Association.
Castellar picked up 5,088 votes (46.16 percent), and will not likely receive another term on the board.
The Association also gave a nod to Suzanne Smith, who currently holds a lead of more than 300 votes over her political opponent, Leonard Englund. Smith earned 51.24 percent of the vote (5,712 ballots), while Englund garnered 5,385 votes (48.30 percent).
Incumbent Dave Larson locked in the District 5 seat, easily defeating challenger Ron Walker.
Larson picked up 6,711 votes (60.82 percent), while Walker earned 38.83 percent of the vote with 4,285 votes.
