Soap Lake general election update
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 3 weeks AGO
SOAP LAKE – As of Wednesday at 5 p.m., both Soap Lake Council members Andrew Arnold and Kayleen Bryson have been re-elected by voters, both running unopposed. Rebecca Leavell is leading in the Soap Lake school board position five. The Soap Lake mayoral race is still too close to call. According to the Grant County Auditor, there are still around 4,600 ballots left to count. Around 10,000 ballots have been counted already.
Council
As of the last ballot count, Arnold received 149 votes, with 11 write-in responses. He ran unopposed. Arnold was appointed by the city council at the April 16 meeting. Bryson received 168 votes with four write-in responses. She ran unopposed. She was elected in 2021 during an unopposed election.
Mayor
The Soap Lake Mayoral race is still too close to call, with 103 votes for incumbent Peter Sharp and 90 write-in responses.
Council member Karen Woodhouse ran in opposition to Sharp as a write-in candidate. It is unknown at this time how many of the write-in votes are for Woodhouse.
School
Rebecca Leavell is leading the polls for position five. She has 244 votes or nearly 58% of the vote. Mark Novick has received 174 votes or nearly 41% of the vote. There were five write-in responses.
Incumbent Donald Clark ran unopposed for school director position two; he has received 347 votes with 7 write-in responses.
The 2025 general election will be certified Nov. 20.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
‘Show up’
Local leaders say community voices shape schools, cities and trust
WARDEN — When Warden Mayor Rosaelia Martinez looked out over the audience at the April 28 Warden City Council meeting, she didn’t see empty seats. She saw neighbors. “First of all, before we start, I want to say thank you to all those that came to the meeting tonight,” Martinez said. “I know we are all busy people, and I really appreciate your input. Your time is valuable and we appreciate you being here.” That message – that showing up matters – was echoed by city and school leaders across the Columbia Basin, many of whom say public participation directly shapes decision-making, transparency and long‑term planning.
Warden council bans kratom, considers parking regulations
WARDEN — Warden City Council passed a kratom ban and special event permit Tuesday night. It also discussed its comprehensive plan update and an ordinance for parking regulations. Around 17 residents were in attendance, a fairly large showing for a Warden council meeting. “First of all, before we start, I want to say thank you to all those that came to the meeting tonight,” Mayor Rosaelia Martinez said. “I know we are all busy people, and I really appreciate your input because it really validates what a lot of people are hoping to achieve in the city. Thank you. Your time is valuable and we appreciate you being here.”
Columbia Basin Hospital nominates Allred for board
EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin Hospital received one application for a vacant seat on the Board of Commissioners for Public Hospital District No. 3. Dr. Lowell Allred has applied for the role. He was officially nominated for the role at the April 28 board of commissioners meeting. “Public notice of this nomination shall occur between April 29 and May 14, to allow time for registered voters residing in the hospital district to also submit nominees for the vacant position,” said Chief Executive Officer Rosalinda Kibby.
