Ward 5 race is a close call
Published 10:20 am Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald
The Aug. 21 primary election numbers came rolling in last week with one council race a near landslide for the incumbent and the other showing a razor-thin margin.
The Ward 5 council race has apparently narrowed down to incumbent Phil DeLeo and challenger Dan Decker.
The Pierce County Auditor's Web site, as of 5 p.m. Friday, had Decker ahead of DeLeo by six votes. Decker had 110 votes for 30.64 percent and DeLeo 104 with 28.97 percent.
Coming in a very close third was Vicki Karuzas with 97 votes, 27.02 percent, and fourth was Michael Armanious receiving 48 votes and 13.37 percent.
The first numbers posted the morning of Aug. 22 showed DeLeo ahead 85 votes to Decker's 81.
By Thursday, the trend swung towards Decker.
“I'm a little surprised,” DeLeo said. “But I'm not concerned. I'm going to start really banging on doors.”
DeLeo, 61, has been on the a council 14 years, first as an at-large member, then since 2002 in the Ward 5 seat.
Decker, 60, ran for mayor in 2005, losing in the primary. He also gathered signatures for a 2003 petition asking to change the city form of government from strong mayor to council manager. The petition made the ballot and was voted down.
He gathered signatures for a petition to the City Council in 2003 allowing residents to put together initiatives or referendums for the ballot. The council passed an ordinance based on the petition.
“I've been knocking on people's doors for the last five years,” Decker said. “They notice I do what I say. I will be a good council person.”
Decker said his success stems from “door knocking and I'm finding out what they are interested in.”
While knocking on doors for his council campaign, Decker has been presenting another petition to residents asking to convert the city to a charter government from a code government.
Decker stated he needs 400 signatures to validate the petition. He said he has more than 200 and hopes to get about 600.
Changing to a charter form of government would involve the city electing a group of freeholders to write the charter. Once the group writes a charter another election is held to pass the charter. The city would pay for these elections.
Decker said the charter form of government “gives we the people more authority. It can stipulate certain things. (For example) we could have a section titled ‘lakes and streams' and state what is going to happen to lakes and streams.”
According to the candidate, Lake Tapps is an issue that needs to be addressed.
“If we don't do something, Lake Tapps is going to dry up. The Native Americans are pushing pretty hard. I believe PSE (Puget Sound Energy) has been here for 80 years with the White River being diverted to Lake Tapps. Now the Native Americans are yelling it is interfering with their salmon run. What is going on with the PSE and Native American position?”
DeLeo said in the push to the general election he will emphasize the progress made by the City Council with the “downtown plan and Eastown.” The councilman intends to advocate for low income housing for seniors and young home buyers in the area.
In the City Council at-large position No. 2 incumbent Mark Hamilton and challenger Tom Watson appear poised to move forward.
Hamilton received 822 votes for 55.39 percent. Finishing second was Watson with 384 votes for 25.88 percent. Jessica Larios came in third with 269 votes and 18.33 percent. There were nine write-in votes.
“I really appreciate the vote of confidence from the public,” Hamilton said. “I plan on doing more doorbelling.”
Hamilton, 53, hopes to get involved with the Pubic Safety Committee if elected for a second term. He wants to emphasize security in the schools.
Watson, 55, said he was “very excited. I am going door knocking. I want to know what their thoughts and needs are.”
The candidate intends to highlight “after hours programs for youths and I'd like to look into controlling water rates. I don't think its fair the way it is set up, charging higher rates outside the city.”
In the Port Commission Position No. 3 race six candidates vied for the top two spots.
Finishing first was Don Johnson with 31,699 votes and 39.37 percent. Running second was Bill Casper gaining 12,922 and 16.05 percent.
Coming in third was David W. Lovell with 10,893 votes, 13.53 percent, fourth was Jerry Thorpe with 9,945, 12.35 percent and fifth was Dave Hyres at 9,513 with 11.81 percent. Running sixth was Paul Carroll, 4,671 at 5.80 percent. Write in votes totaled 875, 1.09 percent.
The Fire District No. 22 Commissioner Position No. 1 drew four candidates.
Coming in on top was Raymond R. Bunk, III with 1,354 votes, 32.10 percent and second was Roger E. Coleman, Jr. at 1,288 votes, 30.54 percent.
Running third was Dick Willner receiving 953 votes and 22.59 percent and fourth was Patrick A. Claffey with 586 votes and 13.89 percent.
Bunk and Coleman are in position to move onto the November ballot.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8209.
TEXTBOX
In each of the primary races, the two candidates receiving the most votes move to the Nov. 6 general election. Ballots will continue to counted until the election is certified Sept. 5. Updated results are posted Monday through Friday on the auditor's Web site www.co.pierce.wa.us.
