Katherine Ross leads Peggy Shepard in the race to become Snoqualmie’s first new mayor in almost two decades, according to initial results released by King County Elections.
Ross currently leads by nearly 22 points, having received 60.68% of the vote thus far. The county has counted 18% of ballots from Snoqualmie’s 8,494 registered voters. The county is projecting a turnout of 46%.
Ross and Shepard both currently sit on the Snoqualmie City Council and are looking to replace longtime Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson who announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection after 16 years in office.
Shepard, who often runs against the rest of the council and has been frequently critical of Larson’s administration, is calling for more government transparency, greater attention to environmental issues, including to the city’s Water System’s Plan, and smarter developmental practices.
On the contrary, Ross has received endorsement from Larson as well as mayors in North Bend, Issaquah and Carnation. She has listed her priorities as increasing tourism, to help businesses and reducing the city’s dependence on property taxes, keeping the city as one of the state’s safest and improving the local community center.
Tanya Lavoy v. Matt Laase
In Snoqualmie’s only competitive city council race incumbent Matt Laase leads challenger Tanya Lavoy for the position five seat.
Laase leads by about 14 points, with 56.88% of the vote so far.
Lavoy, who has endorsements from Larson, as well as state Reps. Lisa Callan and Bill Ramos (both D-Issaquah) and Snoqualmie Councilmember James Mayhew, is a legislative assistant to Washinton state Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue). Her priorities include addressing the pandemic’s impact on businesses, working with regional partners to address affordable housing and embracing smart growth principles, including making the city less dependent on cars.
Laase, an owner of an architectural firm, is a four-year incumbent who is running to be the “voice in the fiscal responsibility,” of the city. His priorities include focusing on the city’s needs over its wants in light of the pandemic, restoring the city’s infrastructure, including the Snoqualmie Parkway, and working on housing affordability for service workers, including police officers and teachers.
Other results:
Snoqualmie City Council (Anna Sotelo v. Bryan Holloway): Holloway, a 16-year incumbent carries 81% of the vote. Sotelo has 17%. Sotelo told the Valley Record over a month ago that she was no longer campaigning for the seat.
Snoqualmie City Council: (uncontested): Jo Johnson, a high school physics teacher, is running uncontested for position 7, Peggy Shepard’s seat. He carries 97% of the vote.
Proposition 1 (Snoqualmie): Yes: 55% No: 44%. Prop. 1 would implement a 0.2% sales tax to help fund transportation projects in the city and would replace the city’s $40 vehicle licensing fee.
Snoqualmie Valley School Board (uncontested): Both races for SVSD school board positions are uncontested, Melissa Johnson and Gary Fancher carry 97% in their respective races.
North Bend City Council (uncontested): All three open North Bend council seats are uncontested. In their respective races: Alan Gothelf carries 96%, Ross Loudenback carries 95%, Mark Joselyn carries 96%.
Transportation Benefit District (North Bend): Yes: 69%. No: 30%. The city council passed a 0.2% sales tax in 2011 to pay for transportation improvements, which went into effect in 2012. The law expires in 2022. State law requires voter approval for another 10-year renewal of the tax.
Fire Commissioner No. 27 Position 3 (Fall City): Robert Angrisano: 43% Daniel E. Meredith (Incumbent): 56%.
All election results will be finalized after 4 p.m. Nov. 23.
