Shavers wins for LD 10 state rep but recount mandated

Democratic challenger Clyde Shavers, a political newcomer and recent returnee to Oak Harbor, has beaten State Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) for state legislative district 10 State Representative Position 1. His 182 vote victory, 0.24%, with 50.05% of votes in the three-county district, triggers a mandatory recount since less than 0.5% separates the candidates.

Shavers gained 17 votes in the Skagit County LD 10 precincts and three more in Snohomish County precincts in that county's final count Monday. Skagit County's last 25 ballots were counted Tuesday, when all counties certified the Nov. 8 election results.

Shavers narrow victory was almost certainly a result of the Nov. 1 criticism of Shavers father, that his son badly misrepresented his Navy service experience. Shavers won the August primary by 2,000 votes.

Gilday won Snohomish County by over 4,150 votes, twice his August margin. But Shavers gained more votes in Island and Skagit counties. He took 56.5% of the Skagit County vote.

The 10th legislative district covers Island County, the southwestern portion of Skagit County and the northeast corner of Snohomish County.

Only two races changed significantly in Skagit County. Corrin Hamburg won the Position 3 Public Utility District Commissioner race with 51.1% of the vote against incumbent Germaine Kornegay after trailing the first week of counting. For Secretary of State, Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson beat Steve Hobbs here. Hobbs also led the first week, but starting Nov. 15 Anderson took the lead. She won Skagit County by some 1,890 votes, 48%, and the Republican write-in took 7.4% of the vote. Hobbs won statewide with 49.8%.

Winning candidates in all other Skagit County and statewide elections have long been decided since the Nov. 8 election except for the final totals.

All elections will be certified by the Secretary of State’s office Dec. 8.