"Steve Hailey holds thin lead in District 9 race"

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

Mesa farmer Steve Hailey's lead is razor-thin in the four-way race for the Republican nomination for the District 9 Washington House of Representatives seat.

Hailey, as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, has a 24-vote lead over Joe Schmick, a Colfax farmer, 3,668 to 3,644. Hailey has 31.4 percent of the vote, Schmick 31.2 percent, Tedd Nealey, a Cheney farmer, has 24.3 percent and Glen Stockwell, a Ritzville business owner, has 12.9 percent.

The winner will face Caitlin Ross of Valleyford in the November general election.

Hailey entered Thursday with a 300-vote lead, but that dwindled when more results from his home county, Whitman, were counted. More results from other counties in the sprawling district are expected today.

In the Republican primary race for the Whitman County Commission, Michael Largent, a Colfax farmer, is close to wrapping up the nomination. His margin, in a four-way race, increased with the latest totals posted.

Largent has 999 votes, to lead Harmon Smith, of LaCrosse, who took over second with 548. Jim White, of Colfax, has 541 and Jeannine Larkin, of LaCrosse, 394. Before Thursday totals were added, Largent held a 322-vote lead over White.

The winner will face Democrat Nathan Weller, of Pullman, who was unopposed in the primary.