Still time for Buckley's council deadlock to be decided

When election night drew to a close, a pair of Buckley candidates found themselves in the rare position of being absolutely deadlocked.

Both Bryan Howard and Marvin Sundstrom had 338 votes, leaving the election up in the air for a time.

According to Mike Rooney of Pierce County elections, there's still plenty of opportunity for a winner to emerge.

Ballots had to be in the mail and postmarked by 8 p.m. Tuesday, meaning there are still votes to be counted. Rooney said results will be posted again at 4 p.m. Wednesday, then again at 4 p.m. Thursday.

All election results are unofficial until they're certified Nov. 29.

A recount remains a possibility. A second count is automatically ordered if the difference between candidates is one-half of 1 percent, or less. If a recount ends up with another deadlock, state law calls for the county elections department to determine a winner "by lot." That allows for various options, Rooney said, possibly as simple as two pingpong balls in a hopper.

Contact Enumclaw Courier Herald Senior Writer, Editor Kevin Hanson at editor@courierherald.com or 360-802-8205.

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