Evan Smith: Tracey holds 207-vote lead over Ryu

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer 

Shoreline City Council candidate Shari Tracey widened her lead over incumbent Councilwoman Cindy Ryu by one vote in the Wednesday vote count. Tracey’s lead is now 207 votes a week before certification of votes. 

Tracey won five of the nine votes counted Wednesday. 

With so few votes coming in, it seems impossible for Ryu to take the lead and highly improbable that Ryu can cut the gap to the 80 votes needed to force a recount.

I had expected the new votes, likely from overseas voters – many military members – to help the incumbent. That’s not happening. 

Tracey has 50.5 percent of the vote to 49.2 percent for Ryu. 

Shoreline ballots not marked for this position number 2,041, probably people who voted for the State ballot measures and for County executive but didn't vote on down-ballot contests. 

Here is the current vote count: 

 
Tracey            8,089    50.5%
Ryu               7,882    49.2%
Candidate Total  15,971    99.7%
Write-in             43     0.3%
Total Votes      16,014   100.0%
Undervotes        2,041
TOTAL BALLOTS    18,055