Some races closely contested, 2021 General Election results indicate

By Loyal Baker

DAYTON–Columbia County had the highest voter turnout in the state in the 2021 General Election at 60.62%, and results from a few of the contested public offices show close margins.

The closest race was decided by just 18 votes, results indicate. There were just 18 votes separating candidates in the race for Council Member No. 3 between Teeny McMunn and Cindi John, with McMunn receiving 477 to John's 459.

Just 22 votes were the difference for new Port of Columbia Commissioner for District No. 3, Johnny Watts, who garnered 832 votes and 50.67% to Jack Miller's 810 votes, or 49.33%.

Port Commissioner for District No. 1 will be Seth Bryan, who received 964 votes and 60.78% to incumbent Shawn Brown's 621 votes, or 39.16%. When sworn in, Watts and Bryan will join recently appointed Commissioner Genie Crowe on the three-person commission.

Korinda Wallace unseated incumbent David D. Bailey for Dayton School Director, District 1. Wallace got 789 votes and 54.45% compared to Bailey's 655 or 45.2%.

Director District No. 4 was won by Aneesha Dieu, who received 803 votes, 55.73%, versus Anna J. Berg's 629 votes or 43.65%.

Uncontested Grant Griffen was re-elected with 1,101 votes and 97.69% to Director District No. 3, and unopposed incumbent Jeff McCowen received 1,167 votes for reinstatement at 97.58%.

Dayton City Council Member No. 5 was won by Marchand Hovrud by 70.91% to 29.09% of the votes going to a write-in candidate. Hovrud received 602 votes and there were 247 write-in votes. According to Auditor Anne Higgins, 13 votes were to write-in candidates and the balance, 234 votes, were for Vicki Zoller.

City Council Member No. 1 was won by Laura U. Aukerman, who received 564 votes and 61.57% to Boe Stevenson's 351 votes, or 38.32%.

City Council Member No. 7 tipped to Tyler Dieu, whose 514 votes and 53.99% outpolled incumbent and recent appointee Fred Crowe's 436 and 45.8%.

Jim Kime was unopposed for Hospital District No. 1 Commissioner for District No. 3, receiving 1,177 votes or 97.43%. Barbara Miller, a recent appointee, was elected to District No. 4 with 1,198 and 96.54%.

Columbia County Fire District No. 1, Commissioner No. 2 will be Richard Rubenser with 29 votes. Fire District 2, Commissioner No. 2 will be Brooke Mikesell with 76 votes. Mike Spring is District 3's Commissioner No. 1 with 1,089 votes.

Zonia Dedloff will be mayor of the Town of Starbuck, receiving 43 votes, 93.48%.

K. Ruth Shearer is Starbuck Council No. 2 winner with 32 votes, 72.73%. Darcy Linklater will be Council No. 4 with 31 votes and 81.58%. Mark Hall is Council No. 5 winner with 3 votes and 97.73%. Steven G. Wildman was elected Clerk-Treasurer with 46 votes and 95.83%.

Starbuck School District No. 35 voters elected Diane Lusk to Director No. 2, Karen Rubenser to No. 3, and Shelley Hall to No. 5 (At Large). Lusk received 66 votes, Rubenser 46 and Hall 55.

Waitsburg School District directors will be Sarah Boudrieau in District 1, Stephanie Cole in District 3 and Lisa Morrow in District 4. Cole received 274 votes or 54.26% and opponent Ann Miller garnered 221 or 43.76%.