The margin between the two Democratic candidates vying to challenge Republican Joe MacLean for auditor shrank to 10 votes in the final count Monday, Aug. 20.

Current Hoquiam mayor Jasmine Dickhoff trails incumbent Chris Thomas 4,508 to 4,518, 27.85 percent to 27.92 percent respectively.

That will trigger a manual recount of the ballots for auditor, elections administrator Scott Turnbull said. By law, the manual recount — meaning the ballots are tallied by hand, not machine — is required when the difference between the candidates is less than 150 votes and less than one quarter of 1 percent of the total votes cast for both candidates.

Turnbull said once the election is certified, which was scheduled for Aug. 21, it is up to the county canvassing board to call for the recount. The recount is scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, prior to this paper going to press. Check thevidette.com for updates.

Canvassing boards have three members and are responsible for determining the validity of ballots and certify the final elections results. Board members typically are made up of the county auditor, prosecuting attorney and a chair of legislative authority. However, since both the county auditor and prosecutor are on the primary election ballot this year, Thomas and Prosecutor Katie Svoboda have been replaced by Chief Deputy Auditor Melinda Raihl and Deputy Prosecutor Norma Tillotson to certify the election, Turnbull said. The third member of the canvassing board is Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners Randy Ross.

The recount applies only to the auditor race. The other county and districtwide races have been decided.

County clerk

Democrat Kym Foster beat Janice Louthan, who has been with the Clerk’s Office for 28 years and declared under the Non Partisan Party, on the primary ballot, 7,918 votes to 7,100. Both will face off again in the general election.

State Rep., Dist. 19, Pos. 2

Republican Joel McEntire, a school teacher from Cathlament, narrowly edged out fellow teacher and Republican David Parsons of Kelso 7,480 to 6,836 in the districtwide vote and will face incumbent Rep. Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen) in November.

Other legislative races

In the two-candidate races for State Representative District 19, Position 1 and District 24, Positions 1 and 2, incumbents Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen), Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) and Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) beat their challengers by a few percentage points in the Grays Harbor County votes. Districtwide, the race between Walsh and Democrat Erin Frasier was equally close, but Chapman and Tharinger beat their opponents with around 60 percent of the total vote. All will face off again in the general election.

Levies

The city of Elma levy to partially fund police services for 2019 passed easily, 413-198, nearly 68 percent in favor.

The Ocean Shores sales and use tax for transportation improvements won a narrow victory, 1,297 to 1,207, 52-48 percent yes votes.

The South Beach Regional Fire Authority excess levy passed 60-40 percent.

Fire District 2 medical services property tax levy passed with nearly 80 percent of the vote.

Congressional races

Incumbent Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) will face Republican challenger Douglas Dightman for the District 6 U.S. Representative seat Kilmer has held since 2013.

Republican Susan Hutchison will face incumbent Sen. Maria Cantwell in November. Democrat Cantwell has held the position since 2001.