Beau Burkett takes strong early lead in Buckley mayoral race

Tuesday night’s first drop of ballots put Burkett up with 63.1 percent of the vote.

By Alex Bruell • November 2, 2021 8:15 pm
Vote pin for american election

This story will be updated.

Beau Burkett is likely to be Buckley’s next mayor, among other developments in the various city council, school district and fire commissioner races around the Plateau.

Those are the main takeaways from the first ballot drop processed Tuesday night in Washington’s general election, which in the Plateau specifically has seen contested races for school boards, city councils and the mayor’s seat in Buckley.

Results will solidify over the next few days as ballots are counted, and the election results are certified Nov. 23.

In the meantime, here are the results as of Tuesday evening. Uncontested elections, where the candidate had against no opponent, will be added in a later update at the end of this story.

ENUMCLAW

School District Dir. 5

Paul Fisher leads with 51.9 percent of the vote, trailed closely by Tara Martel with 47.2 percent. Only about 200 votes stand in between them.

BLACK DIAMOND

Black Diamond City Council Pos. 2

Glen Yadon was up with 56.8 percent of the vote to Trish Stallard’s 42.8 percent.

Black Diamond City Council Pos. 3

Therron Smith had received 55 percent of the initial vote to Corey Bailey’s 44.5 percent. (Bailey officially dropped out of the race two weeks ago, and if he wins the race, he will have to resign and the Black Diamond City Council will appoint a council member instead.)

BUCKLEY

Mayor of Buckley

Beau Burkett had 63.1 percent (473 ballots) of the initial vote tally to Richard O’Neill’s 35.9 percent (269 ballots.)

Buckley City Council Pos. 1

Incumbent Ron Smith took 74.63 percent of the initial vote to Sean Wilson’s 25.2 percent.

Buckley City Council Pos. 2

The race is tight, with Mackenzie A. Breeden taking 52.4 percent to incumbent Connie Bender’s 48 percent. It’s a difference of only 36 votes.

Buckley City Council Pos. 3

Kenneth Arsanto took 60.1 percent of the initial vote to Maureen Sundstrom’s 39 percent.

Buckley City Council Pos. 7

Brandon Green appears poised to retain the seat he was recently appointed to on the council, taking a commanding 80.4 percent of the initial return to Donovan Colt Torp’s 19.3 percent.

White River School District Dir. 1

Denise Vogel took 77 percent of the initial vote to Mike Madden’s 22.7 percent.

White River School District Dir. 3

Amy Molen took 68.1 percent of the initial tally to Shaun Maas’ 32.7 percent.

White River School District Dir. 4

Cassie Pearson had attained 56.2 percent of the first ballot drop compared to Brandy Alonzo, who’d received 43.6 percent.

WILKESON & CARBONADO

Carbonado Town Council Pos. 1

It was always going to be a David who won.

David Rodway, specifically, is in the lead with 67 votes to David Bentley’s 38 votes. While Rodway took close to 2/3 the initial ballot count, the small number of ballots means an upset is always possible.

Wilkeson Town Council Pos. 1

Shalon VanHoof took 25 votes in the initial ballot drop, only four ahead of Krista Farmer, who took 21. Another ballot had gone to a write-in candidate.

COUNTY (KING & PIERCE)

East Pierce Fire & Rescue Commissioner Pos. 5

Patrick K. McElligott was up Tuesday night with 55.4 percent to Ron Scholz’ 44.1 percent.

East Pierce Fire & Rescue Commissioner Pos. 7

Cynthia Wernet had a strong 74.6 percent of the Tuesday night ballot return compared to Todd McKellips’s 24.9 percent.