Salomon extends lead over McClelland to 104 votes

By Evan Smith

Shoreline City Council candidate Jesse Salomon extended his lead over opponent Robin McClelland to 104 votes Tuesday, Nov. 23, from his 94 votes of Tuesday, Nov. 22, and his 90-vote lead of Monday, Nov. 21.

King County officials plan to release updated returns Monday, Nov. 28, before certifying the election Tuesday morning, Nov. 29, and posting final results the next day.

The County still has 700 uncounted ballots on hand and will accept ballots returned for signature verification through Monday.

Salomon holds the lead with a countywide voter turnout of 51.95 percent, compared to an expected final countywide turnout of 52 percent.

The current voter turnout in Shoreline is 54.05 percent.

Salomon picked up 18 new votes Tuesday and 29 Wednesday to 14 Tuesday and 19 Wednesday for McClelland.

The new votes pulled Salomon further away from the range for a mandatory recount.

A margin between the candidates of 0.5 percent or less of their combined total triggers a machine recount, A margin of 0.5 percent or less triggers a hand recount.

With Salomon having 7,502 votes to 7,398 for McClelland, their combined total of 14,900 means that a margin of 74 votes or fewer would trigger a machine recount and a margin of 37 votes or fewer would trigger a hand recount.

Of 18,070 Shoreline ballots, 3,116 left the position blank, and 54 had write-in votes.

The race was by far the most expensive local contest, with Salomon raising $35,415 and spending $30,457, and McClelland raising $25,980 and spending $19,480.

In other Shoreline Council contests, incumbent Councilman Chris Eggen holds 70 percent of the vote to 29 percent for challenger William Hubbell, and incumbent Councilwoman Doris McConnell held 61 percent to 39 percent for former Councilwoman Janet Way.