Harbolt just barely ahead in ML race

Tony Harbolt is cautiously optimistic that the roller coaster election for Medical Lake's City Council Position No. 4 is finally over.

In a tug from the news of 70 years ago, the race for Medical Lake City Council Position No. 4 could have resembled the famed "Dewey defeats Truman," headline that in the end was not true.

On Nov. 9, challenger Don Kennedy held a 353–319 edge, a seemingly safe 34-vote lead, considering the number of ballots that were left to be counted. But when additional ballots were tossed into the mix on Nov. 13, Harbolt flipped the numbers and led by four votes, 454–450.

Then it was discovered that 36 ballots, specific to Medical Lake, were found not to be able to be run through automatic tabulation machines and had to be "duplicated." That means two election workers remark a ballot exactly as turned in, but minus any flaws that the machines rejected.

That count upped Harbolt's lead to 13, but the former Medical Lake Police Chief is not entirely ready to accept victory, waiting until certification takes place on Nov. 28. "I want to remain humble and certainly out of respect for Mr. Kennedy," he said.

"I was shocked, I had pretty much thought that it was over election week," Harbolt said. "I thought I was about 34 votes down at that point."

Harbolt said he did not pay attention to the Nov. 13 count, but then he started to receive email and text messages, suggesting he check the election site.

He checked the new numbers and found he had moved ahead by four votes.

"It's definitely been a crazy election," Harbolt said, agreeing that this is a case where the old axiom that every vote counts certainly rings true.

Harbolt said he cannot fully put a finger on exactly what the difference might have been, but he credits social media. "I think that worked out well for me."

"I've been really humbled by the amount of votes I got, that that many people would place their faith in me," Harbolt said.

He hesitated as of Nov. 19 to embrace the result, but said, "If elected I want to wade into issues with the rest of my fellow council members, get current on what's going on and be a good team player."

This is not Harbolt's first dip into politics, nor is it his first razor-thin result. He lost in a run for Stevens County coroner in the early 2000s when population increases dictated the need for a position.

"I lost that county-wide election by less than 1 percent," Harbolt said. Following a recount he lost by "A handful of votes." He won a four-way primary.

Harbolt's day job is with the Washington State Department of Corrections in the risk management division as safety program director at the Airway Heights Corrections Center. He's lived in Medical Lake for 13 years.

He wants to see what city business needs to be done and will take a wait and see approach, and learn the job. Harbolt said he does have areas he's interested in seeing additional effort being placed, such as parks and law enforcement.

"I'm also smart enough to realize I'm just one of seven on the council," Harbolt said. "It's one thing to have ideas and things you want to implement," but understanding the process and the need to work well with others is important.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].