Flip of a coin decides Kahlotus council race

Just like he did in 2011, Bob Hagans called “heads” for a seat on the Kahlotus City Council. And once again, he got it right.

Hagans and opponent Marcia Robitaille went to a hand recount for the Position 5 seat after tying with 19 votes each.

The quick count of votes from the small northeast Franklin County community confirmed the tie. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton then flipped a 1990 quarter, which Hagans called over the cellphone.

Hagans was allowed to call the toss because his name was first alphabetically, Beaton said.

Whether Hagans will actually serve his four-year term is another question. He resigned from the council because of health concerns after it was too late to remove his name from the ballot and is considering resigning from his second term as well.

Hagans hopes to have a decision by the city council’s next meeting Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, it is another setback for the Robitaille family. Marcia’s daughter-in-law, Molly Robitaille, lost the 2011 coin flip against Hagans, who was running as a write-in candidate, after they tied at 21 votes.

Marcia’s son, Michael Robitaille, lost that year to Shirley Ayers.

Marcia and Molly ran against each other in the 2013 primary for city council, but both ended up behind Sharee Beckner. Michael again lost that year, this time to Scott Williams.

Michael also ran again this year, losing as a write-in candidate against Ayers.

Hagans said Marcia Robitille might get another chance at the council if he decides to resign, though the exact replacement process is unclear. Mayor Patti Hamilton could not be reached Tuesday.

Richland School Board

The mandatory manual recount of the Richland School Board race between Brett Amidan and Jill Oldson has yet to get underway.

Election workers were still working Tuesday to sort out the ballots needed to be counted, which likely will begin the afternoon of Dec. 2, said Amanda Garcia with the Benton County Auditor’s Office.

Oldson leads Amidan by three votes. State law require a mandatory manual recount in elections where there is less than a quarter of 1 percent and less than 150 votes separating two candidates.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Flip of a coin decides Kahlotus council race."