Agen expands leads for school board director

La Conner school board member John Agen increased his lead over former District 2 Director Jeanie Beasley to 120 votes. He now has 54.4% to Beasley's 45.1% after this second vote report Thursday from the Skagit County Elections Office staff.

Agen led by 68 votes Tuesday.

While county staff estimate 9,000 votes remain to be tallied countywide, it is not known how many La Conner school district ballots remain to be counted. Twelve hundred and ninety three residents have voted in this election.

In 2019, Marlys Baker's win over Beasley brought out over 1,700 voters for this director's position. While Agen’s victory is not certain, Beasley would need to win 66% of at least 400 votes to to take the lead.

J.J. Wilbur received 1,298 votes in his uncontested 2021 school board election.

Agen, now District 1 director, would become director in District 2 if he wins. He moved into District 2 in the years after his 2019 election.

Alana Quintasket has 1,023 votes to be elected director in District 1 and Kim Pedroza has 1,026 votes to be elected director of District 4, both an increase of 353. Each was appointed in early 2023.

Town of La Conner, Fire District 13 and Sewer District 1

Mayor-elect Marna Hanneman now has 268 votes from Town of La Conner residents, an increase of 98 votes from Tuesday's count. Position 1 Councilmember Annie Taylor has 267 votes in winning her first election and Position 5 Councilmember Mary Wohleb gained 104 votes, to 273, for her reelection.

In their uncontested Fire District commissioner elections, J.J. Wilbur has 814 votes for Position 1 and John Doyle has 835 votes for Position 2 .

Loren Bogart has 80 votes in his unopposed election for Sewer District 1 commissioner, the area bisected by Snee Oosh Road across from Hope Island.

No one filed for the Cemetery District 1 position, Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.

White powder scare halts count Wednesday

Only 4,499 votes were counted Wednesday and Thursday. Work was halted Wednesday before noon after an envelope with white powder was opened and the Skagit County Auditor Office was evacuated. Elections office staff will report the next vote count by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13.

County staff estimates another 9,000 ballots remain to be counted, for a turnout of 36.6% but even more ballots may remain and the turnout may be higher. County staff raised the estimated number of ballots Thursday to 31,435 from almost 28,000 Tuesday.

The county vote must be certified Nov. 28.