Down to the Wire as More Ballots Counted in Reno Ward 1 Primary Race
A recap of our recent reporting plus bonus content.
Latest figures before Washoe County election officials start receiving and counting new late arriving mail-in ballots, while “curing” questionable ones, have just 29 votes separating Frank Perez (with 817 votes so far) and Lily Baran (with 788 votes) to presumably face off against initially selected council member Kathleen Taylor (988 votes) for the Ward 1 City Council seat in November.
Ward 1 seems to have very little voter turnout, even less than Ward 3, where the also initially selected Miguel Martinez has gotten just over 1,600 votes so far, likely to face off against Denise Myer in November for the seat.
Ward 5 had way more votes in all with fourth place Tara Webster getting nearly 1,500 votes, third place Sheila Browning-Peuchaud, slightly surpassing that number, and in the current run-off positions Brian Cassidy with over 2,300 votes and Devon Reese, initially selected as well and then winning his seat for the now eliminated at-large position, getting over 3,000 votes.
In the new southern Ward 6, Brandi Anderson has also gotten over 3,000 votes, with a likely face-off against Tom Heck, with over 1,000 votes.
Over in Sparks races, Donald Abbott could retain his Ward 1 seat with just a little over 1,000 people voting for him, since he has over 65% of the vote, way beyond the needed 50% validating his victory without the need for a runoff.
In local school races, there should be a Perry Rosenstein, who was the top vote getter against Diane Nicolet, who is the incumbent, duel for District G, while other incumbents Alex Woodley and board president Beth Smith seem to have already secured their seats in Districts E and D, more certainly Smith, despite being the target of hateful mailers and text messages. In District A, former teacher Christine Hull seems to be getting the seat immediately, ousting lawsuit happy incumbent Jeff Church and her other opponent Stephanie Flores.
In the closely watched Republican primary for County Commission District 4, Mark Lawson and Tracey Hilton-Thomas combined have barely more votes than the governor appointed Clara Andriola who is cruising to victory with over 43% of votes so far. In County Commission District 1, Marsha Berkbigler won her own Republican primary setting up a rematch with the unopposed current seat holder Alexis Hill on the Democratic side.
For the State Assembly, in a Democrat party primary, Heather Goulding easily defeated Alex Velto in District 27, which leans Democratic in November, while for State Senate District 15, in another Democratic party duel, Angela Taylor made sure Naomi Duerr would remain at the Reno City Council, rather than leaving for a statewide position.
Washoe County’s board of commissioners is slated to give official approval to final results by next Friday, with ward 1 Reno city council still very much in play right now for who will finish second and get to compete again in clearer one on one showdowns.
Recap of our Recent Reporting
Disappointment over Scope of County’s Investigation while More Accusations Target Grant Denton
Reno Magick, Closing as a Brick and Mortar, but Not Disappearing
Fernley, A Short Commute from Reno, But A World Apart
