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WE JUST FOUND OUT: WE WON! At the County Auditor’s Office Feb. 12, School Board President Janie Beasley, School Board Member Katie Szurek and Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner did what students do when they are at the center of good news: they take selfies and share them with their friends. – Photo by Ken Stern
La Conner school district voters overwhelming approved renewing their school levy Feb. 12, one of four levy wins in three Skagit County school districts. The La Conner levy won with 70 percent of the vote, with 1,123 vote of over 1,600 cast. The last 200 ballots for the four districts will be counted Thursday.
Dr. Whitney Meissner, La Conner superintendent, went to the County Auditor’s office election night with School Board President Janie Beasley and Board Member Katie Szurek. They greeted the results with smiles, group selfies and texts to colleagues. Beasley gave thanks in Lushootseed, the Swinomish language, then said “thank you La Conner voters.”
Meissner offered “huge thanks to our community for the overwhelming support.” The 1.5 mill levy will raise some $874,000 annually in 2020 and 2021. It is a reduction of almost one dollar of assessed valuation. It is not a new tax but replaces an expiring two year levy.
La Conner school district voters tallied the highest yes total by far. Concrete voters came in at 67 percent yes for their levy.
Voters in Concrete, Conway and Mount Vernon all approved operating levies. Mount Vernon voters’ replacement and technology levies passed with just under 60 percent of the vote. La Conner school district voters tallied the highest yes ratio by far.
In Burlington the bond measure did not reach the needed 60 percent threshold, garnering 52.8 percent.
Elections Director David Cunningham noted the low initial vote count election night, citing the weather. “We have several thousand ballots out and some hiccups.” He was mindful of problems in November, when a poorly designed ballot caused Skagit County to lag most others in the state.
Last Thursday only 200 of 14,596 ballots for the 73 precincts were outstanding. The election department was holding ballots to mix with late arriving ones for the final count ahead of certifying the vote, also due on Feb. 22.
Voter turnout countywide was 36 percent.
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