SPOKANE VALLEY – Rick Freier leads the race for Spokane Valley Fire Commission Position No. 5 after the first day of ballot counting Tuesday, Aug. 1.
Freier has 8,622 votes, 53.37%, far ahead of George Orr with 3,772 votes, 23.35%.
Freier could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
But Orr commended Freier for his lead.
“I have to give it to Rick. He’s been working hard,” Orr said. “We’re all Americans, and though we disagree, we don’t have to be disagreeable.
“I hope whoever wins does a great job.”
Diane Wilhite was in last place with 3,701 votes, 22.91%.
“Well ... we’ll see,” Wilhite said of her unofficial position late Tuesday night. “Republicans tend to be late to the vote. So, I’m holding out.
“I like getting out and talking to people, and I like giving the answers I have.”
There were also 59 write-in votes.
Only the Top 2 candidates advance to the Nov. 7 general election.
So far, Spokane County elections officials have counted 16,321 ballots in the race; 92,358 ballots were mailed to registered voters.
So far, voter turnout is only 17.67% in the race.
That’s a percentage Orr said he’d like to see improve.
“I really don’t understand why people don’t vote. There are people who died for your right to vote, and I think you need to get out there and do it,” he said. “We’re very polarized as a country and I hope to do my part.”
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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