Some races stay tight as vote counting continues

Another day of ballot counting Friday did little to change several tight elections across Yakima County.

Some leads widened while one grew even tighter.

* In Sunnyside, one City Council race is nearly neck-and-neck while another is still relatively close.

Incumbent Carol Stone gained ground on challenger Don Vlieger. But by late Friday, Vlieger, an inn owner and former councilman, still led Stone, a homemaker, but only by a scant five votes, 654 to 649.

In the District 1 contest, incumbent Theresa Hancock led challenger Jason Raines, now 683 to 619, or 52 percent to 47 percent. Hancock had trailed Raines by a single vote on election night, but passed him earlier in the week.

* In the Moxee City Council race, challenger Dave Hunter extended his lead to 10 votes -- up
from four on Thursday -- over incumbent Councilwoman Maravell Gonsioroski. He now leads the longtime councilwoman 196 to 186.

* In the Grandview City Council race, Javier Rodriguez extended his advantage by nearly 50 votes, leading Larry Bolan 504 to 459. That's a 52 percent to 47 percent spread. Rodriguez had also trailed on election night.

* In a Yakima race for City Council, radio personality Dave Ettl continued to hold his lead over incumbent Councilwoman Sonia Rodriguez. The vote now stands 8,926 to 8,237, or 52 percent to 48 percent.

Overall, turnout in Yakima County stood at 43.85 percent after Friday's count.