[quote style=”2″]Smith Leading Bendixsen by Just 9 Votes in Unofficial Results[/quote]
Unofficial election results show Hermiston City Council incumbents keeping their seats and a razor-thin lead for Doug Smith in the Ward 4 position. In the Umatilla County Commissioner races, incumbents George Murdock and Larry Givens appear to have cruised to easy wins.
Results as of 11:02 p.m., Tuesday show Smith leading Cameron Bendixsen by just nine votes, 672-663. The winner will take over Frank Harkenrider’s seat. Harkenrider is retiring from city politics after a long career. In Ward 1, incumbent Lori Davis appears to have turned back challenger Jesus Rome, 752-617. Incumbent Jackie Myers has won a clear victory over challenger Jim Leitch, 799-529. Clara B. Fitzerald, running unopposed in Ward 2, garnered 917 votes. She will succeed George Anderson, who did not seek another term on the council.
Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann, running unopposed, received 1,105 votes.
In the county commissioner race, Murdock overwhelmed challenger Michael Cannon, 5,336 to 2,540. Givens had no problem turning back Jack Esp, 5,669-2,401.
Voter turnout for the primary election was low, with just 28.36 percent of registered voters in Umatilla County casting ballots, down from 37.51 percent in 2012’s primary election.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden defeated Republican opponent Dennis Linthicum and will take on Democrat Aelea Christofferson in November. Walden took 75.4 percent of the votes in Umatilla County, while his Republican challenger received 24.5 percent of the vote. On the Democratic side, Christofferson got 63.3 percent of the vote to defeat challengers Barney Spera and C.F. Vulliet.
In the race for a seat in the Oregon Legislature from District 57, incumbent Greg Smith ran unopposed and will retain his seat as there is no one running on Democratic side.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley will face Republican Monica Wehby in the fall election. Merkley received 1,907 votes in Umatilla County, while Wehby received 1,815 votes from GOP voters.
Gov. John Kitzhaber will face Republican Dennis Richardson in the November general election. In Umatilla County, Kitzhaber received 1,868 votes on the Democratic side, while Richardson received 2,442 votes.
