North Whidbey resident and Republican Rick Hannold will take office later this week as Island County’s District 3 commissioner.
The unofficial results available Monday were scheduled to be certified by the Election’s Board Tuesday afternoon after press time.
Hannold, whose grassroots campaign won him the election, is expected to be sworn in by Friday.
“It was a lot of doors,” Hannold said Monday. “It was amazing how many people said, ‘No one has ever come up and talked to us before.’ ”
Monday’s state-mandated recount showed Hannold winning in a slim 144-vote lead with 14,865 to Democratic candidate Karla Jacks’ 14,721.
Not only did Hannold hit the pavement himself to share his platform, but he had several supporters who went out and knocked on doors for him. These included his former opponent Republican Marc Hennemann, who lost his bid in the primary, and long-time friends Colleen Fleck and her husband Larry.
“Doorbelling is the old-fashioned way to do it, but it works,” Fleck said.
Fleck said she has known Hannold for several years and agreed with his values and desire to strengthen the county’s economy.
“He was a candidate we really wanted to get behind,” Fleck said. “A lot of times people didn’t even know about him and they always thanked me.”
Hannold said he spent only $4,600 on 14 large signs and 200 small yard signs, half paid for in small donations and half out of his own pocket.
In comparison, Jacks’ campaign raised $41,479 and spent $36,821, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Jacks could not be reached for comment.
“I think people are tired of the elections being bought by mass media,” Hannold said. “It really paid off.”
Having the opportunity to speak to so many residents will inform his decisions as a commissioner, said Hannold, and that he will continue to “get out and talk to folks.”
The final electronic recount ends a nail-biter of an election for District 3. Hannold took the lead election night by 301 vote which increased to 416 by the next day. Delayed votes from Camano Island closed the margin to 134 where it stayed approximately until the recount.
