SOAP LAKE — One incumbent and one challenger lead the races for Soap Lake School District positions after the Grant County Auditor’s office counted the first round of ballots in the general election.

Position 5 incumbent Curtis Dotson is ahead with 5.89 percent or 400 votes and challenger Wayne Turner received 49.11 percent or 386 votes.

“I think it is awful close, but I am comfortable with what is going on,” Turner said. “I didn’t expect to be this close in the first place, I thought that since Curt was the incumbent he would get more votes than he did.”

Dotson also expressed surprise at the results.

“As close as it is, it is hard to say what will happen,” Dotson said. “I feel it could go either way at this point.”

Dotson said the campaign didn’t turn out the way he expected.

“When I ran four years ago the candidates both spoke positively, but this year it went in a direction that was surprising for me,” Dotson said. “It went down a bit of a lower road which was a shock. It was hard reading letters in the paper, I definitely didn’t want to get into a slugfest.”

Dotson said if he wins he plans to get back to work.

“There are big tasks that are still ongoing despite the board transitions, such as the new superintendent search going on,” he said. “I am going to try not to lose any think-steps, but continue going forward.”

Position 2 challenger Wanda Fencl is ahead by 1 percent. She received 59 percent votes and incumbent John Marthini had 40 percent of the votes.

“Well more power to her, I am kind of curious to see how she would do (in that position),” Marthini said. “I am the last one of the past existing board, so I guess people wanted change.”

Marthini said he would take advantage of the break if he does not win.

“I’ve enjoyed my time so far, I’ve been here for 14 years so it would be a well-deserved break for me,” he said. “Since the majority wanted the change, hopefully they will get good results out of Wanda.”

Fencl was not available for comment.