Larsen, Garrison hang on to positions

By Dalina Castellanos, Herald staff writer

The heated race for two contested Pasco City Council seats was going to the incumbents in votes counted Tuesday.

Preliminary results showed Position 7 incumbent Tom Larsen leading with 2,137 votes, or 52 percent, to Todd Samuel's 1,942 votes, or 48 percent.

And Mike Garrison had a solid lead for the Position 2 seat with 2,489 votes, or 61 percent. Challenger Alecia Greenaway had 1,589 votes, or 39 percent.

Larsen's 195-vote lead appeared strong but mail-in ballots still will trickle in over the next few days, and Franklin County's election website said 800 ballots remained to be counted of the 6,823 ballots received by Tuesday. Turnout was 28.5 percent.

Larsen said he will wait for the election to be certified Nov. 24 before he starts to celebrate, but added that he's "pleased that the people of the city have confidence in me."

Samuel said Tuesday night that he enjoyed the race. "I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know our city better."

Garrison said he was happy to be able to continue his longtime service to the city. He has served on the council for 22 years.

His campaign emphasis was to let "people know what I have done in the past and can be counted on to contribute to a good solid government in the future."

Greenaway, who was on her way home from the county annex, said she was pleased with the results of her first run. "I think (Garrison) and I had a great race," she said.

"I came out of nowhere and did a fabulous job at the polls, so things are good," she said.

Pasco Mayor Joyce Olson and councilman Bob Hoffmann also were up for re-election but were unopposed.

The next vote count is planned Friday.

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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Larsen, Garrison hang on to positions

By Dalina Castellanos, Herald staff writer