As of 9 o’clock Tuesday night, the picture was beginning to emerge in a number of races for city council seats in Issaquah and Sammamish. In others, it was still too close to call.
In Issaquah, with the ballots of 35 percent of registered voters counted, the two contested races are all but over.
For position No. 5, incumbent Maureen McCarry has 69.09 percent (2432 votes), well ahead of Joan Probala with 30.65 percent (1079).
For position No. 7, Tola Marts has a slimmer but still significant lead with 60.27 percent (2101).
He leads Nathan Perea with 39.44 percent (1375).
The other positions, Mayor, No. 1 and No. 3, are all uncontested, and will be won by incumbent Ava Frisinger, first time candidate Mark Mullet, and incumbent Eileen Barber respectively.
In Sammamish, where the ballots of 33 percent of registered voters have been counted, things are a little less clear at this stage.
John James leads the race for position No. 1 with 57.62 percent (2993).
Erica Tiliacos is not far behind though, with 42.05 percent (2184).
For position No. 3 the favored Tom Vance has 45.06 percent of the votes (2438) and trails John Curley, who has 54.78 percent (2964).
Incumbent Mayor and 10 year councilor Don Gerend looks secure in position No. 5. He has 67.99 percent (3499), ahead of first time candidate Michael Rutt, who has 31.71 percent (1632). There will be those who will count this percentage as a significant victory for the outsider Rutt.
It appears Sammamish residents are ready for change in position No. 7, however.
Tom Odell, with 57.97 percent of the vote (3027), leads incumbent Jack Barry with 41.82 percent (2184).
King County Elections will post more results tomorrow at 4.30 p.m., including the ballots from accessible voting centers. The Issaquah and Sammamish Reporter will have these online within 10 minutes of them being available.
For more results from Election 2009, including the race for King County Executive, and the votes of Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71, go to your.kingcounty.gov/elections/200911/results
