Second computer vote count has added 3,743 ballots, with maybe still about 6,000 ballots left to count. By Friday at 5 pm we should have the real final results. Today’s tally firmed up Dan Pike to be in the general election - putting more distance between him and Don Keenan. Dave Pros is virtually tied with Chris Hatch for County Council and this race may require a recount before we are done. And Don Gischer and Damon Gray remain almost tied for the city council seat - and this also may require a recount.

8:45am
Yes, Dan Pike’s apparent selection for the general election is an upset of the local political insiders. Pike hit a responsive chord with citizens of Bellingham with his no-nonsense practical approach to the issues we have been dealing with for years or even a decade. We believed he would actually work to solve these issues if elected our mayor.

Dan Pike reached out to all of us with his clear thinking and he did not have to pretend the problems are not real - as some of the others did. Don Keenan in particular shares much responsibility for our festering issues because of his many years in city hall when these issues went nowhere. For the record, clean drinking water, neighborhood planning, pollution on our waterfront, closed door to citizen initiatives, growth planning confusion and almost complete lack of traffic planning. There are more - deceit on levy plans, hiring unqualified department heads and bullying the council. Yes, I could go on but that suffices.

Dan McShane also won because he does not share in the creation of the city problems and because his campaign manager, Lisa, is the best campaign guru in the county. Her fingerprints are also all over Bob Kelly’s success in the county council election for Dan’s seat. She has not admitted to this, but it is well known by most local political insiders. Dan had the backing of the younger local environmental interests while Keenan had the backing of the older established interests - the quasi-liberal elite that has controlled city hall for over 20 years - back at least to the election of Tim Douglas as mayor in 1983.

There is still the chance that Keenan’s votes will nudge out Dan Pike - but this should not happen as the late returns tend to be more conservative and Pike is more moderate than Keenan.

Let’s hope Dave Pros vote total can overcome the modest lead by Chris Hatch. Dave is by far the most qualified for council and will be an independent voice there. Local environmental and liberal groups passed over Dave, who would represent all they desire, in favor of a knee jerk endorsement for any minority candidate and because Lisa influences or controls so many enviro endorsements.

Quickly, it is fantastic to see Stan Snapp do so well. Here is a real guy with decades of civic service and a practical knowledge of our town. It will be Lilliquist’s turn to lose to Bjornson this year. Expect a lot of conservatives to hold their noses and vote for her. I will reluctantly vote for him as she is sooo useless on the council and I feel we can hopefully elect a decent person in two years. No kind words for either of them.

There are 6,000 or more votes to count. New totals will be available about 4 pm or later for the next few days - with reliable results posted Thursday or Friday. There is a link to the totals in the top of the right column.