Legislature: Okuniewicz, Green deadlocked late
Judd Wilson Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 8 months AGO
Kootenai County candidates Marc Eberlein (far left), Tim Kastning (third from left), and Tony Wisniewski (fourth from left) join other Republicans gathered at Red Lion Templin’s Hotel in Post Falls on election night. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
Democratic candidate for District 3 state representative Dan Hanks discussed election returns with supporters at Capone’s in Coeur d’Alene Tuesday night. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
State legislative candidates Shem Hanks, Rebecca Schroeder, and Dan Hanks shared good times with Democratic supporters at Capone’s in Coeur d’Alene Tuesday night. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
Republican congressional candidate Nick Henderson watched the election returns with his campaign team and family Tuesday night. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
Sen. Steve Vick, Rep. Ron Mendive, state legislative candidate Jim Addis, and other Kootenai County Republicans turned out for a primary election night watch party Tuesday night. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Contested Republican primaries for state legislative seats in Districts 2-4 fueled voter turnout in Kootenai County on Tuesday.
At 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Kootenai County elections officials had not completed counting votes. According to unofficial results as of that time based on absentee ballots and 18 of 70 precincts, in District 2, Republicans John Green and Doug Okuniewicz were neck-and-neck in a bid to replace outgoing Rep. Eric Redman in the state legislature, with Green ahead 978-949.
Fritz Wiedenhoff trailed incumbent Rep. Vito Barbieri 1,314-664 for the district’s other seat in the Idaho House of Representatives.
In District 3, former Rep. Kathy Sims asked voters to send her back to Boise after a two-year absence, but Tony Wisniewski led her 918-810 in the contest to replace outgoing Rep. Don Cheatham as district representative. In District 4, first-term Republican incumbent Rep. Paul Amador led challenger Roger Garlock 1,622-701 in his bid for re-election, and Sen. Mary Souza had a 1,667-683 edge over challenger Michael Pereira.
Incumbents Sen. Steve Vick and Rep. Ron Mendive faced no primary challengers, and newcomer Jim Addis ran unopposed for the Republican nod to replace outgoing Rep. Luke Malek in District 4, Seat A. Rep. Don Cheatham ran uncontested to fill outgoing Sen. Bob Nonini’s District 3 seat in the Idaho Senate.
The primary between Alanna Brooks and Richard Kohles for District 2, Seat B was the only contested Democratic race in Districts 2-4. Brooks led Kohles 239-198 as of press time. Democratic candidates Dale Broadsword, Maria Andrews, Patrick Lippert, Dan Hanks, Cory Jane English, Rebecca Schroeder, and Shem Hanks went unchallenged in their quest to carry the Democratic banner into the general election season.
Unofficial state legislative race results from the primary elections across Kootenai County at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday were as follows:
Republicans
District 2
State Senator - Steve Vick - 1,702 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Vito Barbieri - 1,314 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Fritz Wiedenhoff - 664 votes
State Representative, Seat B - John Green - 978 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Doug Okuniewicz - 949 votes
District 3
State Senator - Don Cheatham - 1,539 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Ron Mendive - 1,517 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Kathy Sims - 810 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Tony Wisniewski - 918 votes
District 4
State Senator - Michael Pereira - 683 votes
State Senator - Mary Souza - 1,667 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Jim Addis - 1,989 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Roger Garlock - 701 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Paul Amador - 1,622 votes
Democrats
District 2
State Senator - Dale Broadsword - 382 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Maria Andrews - 392 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Alanna Brooks - 239 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Richard Kohles - 198 votes
District 3
State Senator - Patrick Lippert - 341 votes
State Representative, Seat A - no candidates
State Representative, Seat B - Dan Hanks - 354 votes
District 4
State Senator - Cory Jane English - 944 votes
State Representative, Seat A - Rebecca Schroeder - 977 votes
State Representative, Seat B - Shem Hanks - 885 votes
MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES
ARTICLES BY JUDD WILSON STAFF WRITER
Avista: One and done on merger
POST FALLS — Avista has officially closed the door on its proposed $5.3 billion merger with Canada-based Hydro One.
Census survey highlights changes
COEUR d’ALENE — Our area is changing, and the U.S. Census Bureau is putting numbers to some of the more profound shifts.
Idaho regulators reject Hydro One deal
COEUR d’ALENE — Ontario politicians exert too much control over Hydro One for Idaho law to permit the $5.3 billion sale of Avista to Hydro One, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission said Thursday. “In this case, we find the applicants have failed to carry their burden under Idaho Code $ 6l-327.”