One Mid-Columbia election could end in a coin flip. A current mayor trails in another
While the biggest races of the primary in the Tri-Cities area were focused on a Richland School Board recall, two smaller town primary races were just as heated.
The top two vote-getters in each race will go on to compete in the Nov. 7 general election, but in Prosser and Connell who is going to land in second place isn’t so clear.
In Prosser, Mayor Randy Taylor came in second in the race for his own seat. He has a lead of just 64 votes over the third place finisher.
Gary Vegar took a commanding lead in the race with 56% of the vote, or 362 votes, while Taylor had 27%, or 176 votes, and Harold Lewis got 17%, or 112 votes.
With another round of ballots expected to be counted Wednesday afternoon, there is a small possibility Taylor could be knocked off the November ballot if Lewis makes up ground.
Taylor has seen some controversy recently as he led the push for a failed $20 million bond for a new police station and city hall. The move has been met with significant pushback, and the council seems to be gearing up for another attempt at passing it.
He is a commercial executive with Basin Pacific Insurance, and was a longtime council member before running for mayor in 2015.
Vegar is a local business owner and civic leader. He owns the Horse Heaven Hills Brewery, is the president of the Prosser Historic Society and was named the Prosser Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year for 2023.
Lewis is an economist who has spent much of his career working in government positions, including as a Senior Regional Economist for the Army Corps of Engineers, according to his candidate profile in the Valley Publishing Company. He has also served as an adjunct business professor at Central Washington University.
Benton County estimates they have about 3,500 votes left to count across the county.
Connell council
In Connell’s primary for the Position 5 council member, there are only an estimated 51 ballots left to count, and second place is a dead tie.
It was the only race in Franklin County that drew more than two candidates. Issues with mail service could see a few more ballots trickle in, and some could be challenged.
Preston Hart has a solid lead over his competitors with 52% of the vote, of 108 votes. Patrice Hebel and Stephanie Hallman are tied at 23% with 48 votes each. Four votes went to write-in candidates.
If the last round of ballots coming in don’t break the tie, the second place finisher could be decided with a coin flip.
Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton said that in his time overseeing elections, races have come down to coin flips twice. Both times were in Kahlotus.
Hart is a Washington State University graduate with more than 20 years of experience in business management, according to his voter’s pamphlet profile.
Hallman is a nurse manager and CPR instructor. She is also a licensed EMT and has earned degrees in business administration and occupational health and safety management.
Hebel is the general manager of the M&M Hotel and a board member for the Connell Chamber of Commerce.
Ballots for the primary race will be certified on Aug. 15.
