*** Grand Coulee - Most election results decided ***

Grand Coulee, Washington -- 11/13/2003
The Grand Coulee mayoral race and the joint parks and
recreation district appear settled, while one Coulee Dam
council race remains very close a week after elections.

All of the results are tentative, however, until county
canvassing boards certify the results next Wednesday.

The latest ballot count from last Friday showed that incumbent
Bonnie Femling leads challenger Tom Skordas by 12 votes,
148-130, for position five on the Coulee Dam Town Council.

In the Grand Coulee race for mayor, with 71 percent
of the votes, incumbent Tammara Byers defeated
challenger Mike Horne by 96 votes, 163-67.

"I was grateful and honored for the show of confidence
by the voters of Grand Coulee," Byers said.

Horne said he wanted to congratulate Byers for winning,
and he plans be more on top of things to gain more support
when he runs again in four years.

Voters supported formation of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Park and Recreation District by a 59-percent margin, 978-404.
It needed more than 50 percent to pass.

Elmer City resident Ted Piccolo leads all commissioner
candidates with 878 votes. Coulee Dam resident Sean
Hess has received 870 votes. Coulee Dam resident Lauriann
Mountjoy has garnered 834 votes. Coulee Dam resident Karl
Pearson has received 830 votes, and Grand Coulee resident
Jan Schrader tallied 815 votes.

The three candidates receiving the most votes will serve
four-year terms. The other two will serve two-year terms.
All ran unopposed.

Byers said the election reassures her that her
administration is headed in the right direction.

She said she plans to continue what has been done in the last
four years by sticking to her campaign promise to finish city
initiatives began during her first term.

That includes connecting Electric City's water supply to
Grand Coulee's, street and road maintenance and repairing
Burdin Boulevard.

"I think we're heading in a good direction, I'm excited,"
Byers said.

Horne said he hopes that the city will takes on some of his
campaign ideas, such as creating a drug task force and building
a community center.

The K and M Automotive Repair owner said he plans to
stay active in promoting business and tourism "to get the
ball rolling in the area."

Horne said he will try to do what he can to make it easier
for small business to get started and make it in the Grand Coulee.

"I'll do as much as I can as a business (owner)
and a citizen of Grand Coulee," he said.

Horne said he also plans to help bring a skate park
to the area because kids need a place to go.

For the parks and recreation district, Hess said that the support
from the voters gives newly elected commissioners a strong
mandate to become active quickly.

He was pleased with the election, and he credited Coulee Rec.
vice-president Claire Kirkpatrick for doing a lot of the footwork
necessary to make it successful.

He said he's not sure about how they
will conduct the meetings early next year.

Hess said the commissioners-elect are looking to Shrader and
Piccolo, who both have experience on other boards, to provide
advice on what to do.

If the votes are certified, the parks and recreation district
can pursue money from local, state, federal and tribal
governments and has the authority to run tax levies in the district.

Coulee Rec. is a non-profit group that can pursue
money from private companies and individuals for the district.

The impetus for forming the district was the desire for a
swimming pool in the area, which will be their first goal
when they begin meeting. They also plan to pursue a new
skateboard park in the area and playground equipment.

ACC - http://www.genesbmx.com/GrandCoulee.html

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com