EPHRATA - Moses Lake attorney Garth Dano leads Grant County prosecutor Angus Lee by 715 votes with about 75 percent of nearly 20,000 votes tallied, according to county election officials.

"I am pretty edified about the citizens of Grant County showing their support," Dano said Tuesday night at a celebration with supporters in Moses Lake.

"I'm not thinking this is over at all until all of the votes are counted," he said.

Dano gained about 52 percent of the 14,465 votes cast, according to election officials with about 4,000 uncounted ballots.

"There are still votes to be counted. I am proud of everything we accomplished in the past six years by increasing trial convictions," Lee stated. "If the county chooses to go another direction, I wish the new administration the best of luck."

Dano said he was surprised that his lead of 2,224 votes in the Aug. 5 primary shrank to 715 votes at this point and he credited the move to negative campaigning by Lee. Dano said he was happy to have run a clean campaign.

Dano also raised more money than Lee in his campaign and outspent him by nearly a 6 to 1 margin, according to election data.

Previously Dano said he wanted to restore pride and confidence to the prosecutor's office, marred by ethics complaints and lawsuits by county employees.