Election update: Tight House Dist. 53 race awaits more ballots

Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship and her office still were counting ballots Wednesday and expect more in coming days — and it could make a big difference in the razor-thin margin in the race for the House District 53 Republican nomination.

Jack Zika and Ben Schimmoller are trying to clinch the GOP nomination, and Zika is leading Schimmoller by only 11 votes as of the last ballot-counting early Wednesday.

The district seat is currently being held by Gene Whisnant of Sunriver, who earlier this year announced he’ll be retiring after completing this term.

Zika was leading Tuesday night, but in the last ballot counting overnight, Schimmoller caught up.

“I have full faith in the election process, and I think the county clerk is doing a great job,” Zika “We want to make sure that every vote is counted and we want to be a part of that process when there’s a recount.”

Schimmoller was at the clerk’s office on Wednesday morning to see if results would change.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” he said. “We think the momentum is with us, and there is a lot (of ballots) to be seen left. We know we’re not expecting the final answer today, and we’re just pushing to make sure every vote is counted.”

Under state law, any race that is closer than 0.5 percent will automatically go to a recount.

Blankenship said she’ll wait for the recount decision until all ballots are counted, including any dropped off at other county clerks’ offices before the 8 p.m. Tuesday dateline that will be sent to the county elections office.

You can view all the latest election results at: http://results.oregonvotes.gov/

Adair tops incumbent Baney for Deschutes County Commission

After serving on the commission for more than a decade, Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney lost her primary to Deschutes County Republican Party Chair Patti Adair.

Adair won nearly 52 percent of the vote, and Baney took 48 percent.

The challenger ran on several issues, including lowering property taxes, and said Wednesday she wants to find a way to relieve some of the burden on taxpayers.

She said she wants to look at the overproduction of cannabis in Deschutes County.

“They would know. Our enforcement will definitely step up. I believe the commissioners have set up more people to be inspecting ,because no one was inspecting before,” she said.

Adair said she received an email from Baney, wishing her the best of luck in the general election in November, in which Adair will face James Cook, the Democratic nominee.

NewsChannel 21 tried to contact Baney for comment but our calls, emails, and text messages were not returned.

Baney posted this statement on her Facebook page:

“I am proud of the work I have done for our county. Having led us through the recession, expanded mental health and veteran services, reduced burdensome regulations and increased transparency at the state level to address local transportation and housing needs, the work is never really done. I look forward to continuing to serve in the next few months and I am grateful for those who have mentored, challenged and supported me. Deschutes County is a dynamic, economic force in Oregon, I am proud to be a part of it.”

Voters will directly elect Bend’s next mayor

For the first time in the city’s history, voters will now elect a mayor for the city of Bend.

Previously, the mayor was chosen by the City Council, but voters on Tuesday night approved a proposed change to the city charter.

In November, three City Council seats will be up for grabs, and the first directly elected mayor as well.

NewsChannel 21 contacted current Mayor Casey Roats and asked if he is interested in the position.

Roats replied by text that he will announce his decision next month.

Mayor Pro Tem Sally Russel said she has gotten several calls from community members urging her to throw her hat in the ring, but said she’ll need time to make a decision.

Voters also approved removing councilors’ current $200-a-month pay from the city charter and allowing councilors to approve any changes by ordinance, based on an independent advisory panel’s recommendation. Based on the first such review and council decision earlier this year, future councilors will be paid $530 a month and the future mayors more than $1,000 a month.