Agen leads in La Conner school board contest

Ken Stern | Nov 08, 20230

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Nancy Crowell count

ALL OVER BUT THE COUNTING – Election day is Nov. 7 but in Washington state it ends the 18-day voting period. This ballot was cast in La Conner in October. Locally, the La Conner School District Position 2 Director seat was the only contested election.

The one contested election for greater La Conner voters in 2023, between John Agen and Janie Beasley for La Conner School District Director Position 2 has Agen with 453 votes, 53.7% after the first vote tally Nov. 7, ahead by 68 votes. Beasley received 385 votes, 45.7%.

All Town of La Conner candidates did not have opposition and won: Marna Hanneman for mayor, has 170 votes; Annie Taylor, appointed in 2021, for council position 1, has 162; and Mary Wohleb, an incumbent, 169. They take their oaths in December. Hanneman replaces Ramon Hayes, mayor since 2007.

Two La Conner school board director positions were not contested: Alana Quintasket is elected for position 1, with 678 first day votes counted. Kim Pedroza, appointed to position 4 in February was elected. She has 680 votes. They will serve four year terms.

Fire District 13 Commissioners John Doyle, position 2, and J.J Wilbur, position 3, were unopposed. Doyle’s vote count was 574 and Wilbur’s 558 Tuesday. He will serve a six-year term and Wilbur has four years of an unexpired term. They were appointed in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Skagit County elections office staff reported 17,936 votes counted Tuesday, Nov. 7 and estimate another 10,000 have to be tabulated. Turnout will then be about 33% of the county's 85,826 voters. It is not known how many ballots remain to be counted for the La Conner school board district 2 director seat.

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

The Skagit County election office will report votes by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.