Warden general election update
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 weeks AGO
Six of the seven Warden elections were unopposed this year, except for one school board race. The races included: two city council positions, four school board positions and one cemetery board position.
FILE PHOTO
Shawn Clausen is leading the polls for the Warden School Board in position five. As of Nov. 5, ballot counts; he is in the lead with 153 votes. Ryan Arredondo has 36 votes.
WARDEN – Most of the Warden races this year were unopposed, except Warden School board position number five between Shawn Clausen and Ryan Arredondo. As of the Nov. 5 ballot counts, Clausen is in the lead with 153 votes. Arredondo has 36 votes.
The general election will not be certified until Nov. 20; the Grant County Auditor estimates around 4,600 ballots left to count.
School District
Four of five school board candidates were up for re-election; only one race was opposed.
Warden School Board member Shane Cox, representing District One, received 173 votes. There were three write-in votes. Cox is the board chairperson.
Warden School Board member Tiffany Hymas, representing District Two, received 172 votes. There were three write-in votes. Hymas serves as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representative for the board.
Warden School Board member Bryce Cox, at large, received 172 votes. There were two write-in votes. Cox serves as the legislative representative.
City Council
Council member Agapito “Speedy” Gonzalez is seeking re-election for council member two; he received 60 votes and there were two write-in votes. Gonzalez was appointed Feb. 25, 2025.
Council member Omar Pruneda for council member three; he received 53 votes, and there was one write-in vote. Pruneda was appointed in Jan 2018 and re-elected in 2020.
Cemetery
William Erickson ran for Warden Cemetery Commissioner 2, receiving 178 votes. There were two write-in votes.
Shawn Clausen is leading the polls for the Warden School Board in position five. As of Nov. 5, ballot counts; he is in the lead with 153 votes. Ryan Arredondo has 36 votes.ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.