School race to require manual recount Dec. 12

When King County’s election staff certified the Nov. 8 general election last week, it came as no surprise that an Enumclaw School Board race still had not been decided.

When King County’s election staff certified the Nov. 8 general election last week, it came as no surprise that an Enumclaw School Board race still had not been decided.

The contest for a vacant Position 4 seat on the board had remained close from the time the first election returns were posted. The seat is being chased by Tina McGann and Dan Peterson.

When certification came and went Nov. 29, the board race was closer than ever. Final numbers showed the two candidates separated by just nine votes. McGann held a slight advantage, receiving 3,151 votes or 49.88 percent of the total. Peterson had 3,142 votes and 49.74 percent. There were 24 write-in votes received.

The narrow decision triggered an automatic recount, specifically by hand as opposed to a machine tally. That recount will be conducted Dec. 12 and it is expected official results will be posted to the election department’s website the following day.

Final certification of the recounts is slated for Dec. 16.