Election Results: Richland councilman on the verge of losing seat
Richland voters embraced a Benton County GOP recommended slate of city council candidates Tuesday, including one who died unexpectedly in September.
Preliminary results released Tuesday showed Pat Holten winning her race for Position 3, the late Donald Landsman winning his race for Position 4, Kyle Saltz narrowly leading in his race for Position 6, and incumbent Ryan Whitten winning his race to retain his Position 7 seat.
Results will be updated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Benton County Auditor said.
Position 3
Patricia “Pat” Holten, an ally of Mayor Theresa Richardson, handily defeated Robert Walko for the seat currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Kent.
Holten, who was endorsed by the Benton County GOP, received 4,020 votes to Walko’s 2,539, or 61% to 39%.
Kent, a Hanford attorney and longtime incumbent, lost her reelection bid after failing to mount a campaign during the August primary.
The primary set up a match between Holten, a retiree who raised her children in central Richland, against Walko. But Walko announced he was suspending his campaign after learning he hadn’t lived in Richland long enough to qualify for office.
By law, his name remained on the ballot.
Position 4
Donald Landsman, who died after the August primary, defeated John Maier, a recent Hanford High School graduate and the son of another council incumbent, Kurt Maier.
Landsman took 58% of the vote, or 3,796 votes, to John Maier’s 42%, or 2,738 votes.
By law, Landsman’s name remained on the ballot and the Benton County GOP recommended voters cast ballots for him instead of Maier.
In January, the city council will appoint an interim candidate to serve until a new election can be held in 2026 to complete the remainder of the nonpartisan term.
The Position 4 seat is being vacated by Ryan Lukson, who did not run for reelection.
Position 6
Incumbent Kurt Maier was being narrowly defeated by challenger Kyle Saltz, who was endorsed by the Benton County GOP.
Saltz took 50.1% of the vote, or 3,315 votes, to Maier’s 49.7%, or 3,291 votes. There were also 10 write-in votes cast.
Maier, who works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, first took office in 2024 and provided an independent voice on the council.
Saltz, who works for the Hanford Patrol, emphasized his military background and made community safety his top priority.
Position 7
Incumbent Ryan Whitten, who was recommended by the Benton County GOP, was ahead with 51% of the vote, or 3,370 votes to Colin Michael’s 48%, or 3,174 votes.
Whitten is a Navy veteran who joined the city council in 2023. He works for Energy Northwest.
Michael is an Army veteran who currently works in safety and regulatory compliance at Hanford.