It appears longtime incumbent Les Thomas could be in for a tough fight to keep his Kent City Council seat in November if Tuesday’s primary results are an accurate indicator.
Thomas, in his 16th year on council, leads the Position No. 3 race with 39.16 percent (3,968 votes) followed closely by Hira Singh Bhullar with 35.51 percent (3,598 votes), according to King County Election results on Tuesday night. Sara Franklin ranks third with 24.73 percent (2,506 votes).
The two candidates with the most votes in the primary advance to the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Thomas is seeking a fifth four-year term and running a low-fund campaign with plans to raise and spend less than $5,000. Bhullar, who lost a 2015 council race to Tina Budell, has raised $32,820 so far, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Franklin raised $7,317.
Larimer, Minor showdown
Incumbent Marli Larimer leads the council’s Position No. 1 seat with 50.65 percent (5,010 votes). Todd Minor also will advance to the general election with 31.29 percent (3,095 votes). Elizabeth Peang ranks third with 17.12 percent (1,693 votes).
The council appointed Larimer in 2018 to replace Budell, who resigned to take a new job in Chicago. Larimer has raised $6,463. Minor, a member of the city Parks and Recreation Commission, plans to raise and spend less than $5,000. Peang, who failed to advance out of a 2017 council primary for a seat won by Satwinder Kaur, also raised and spent less than $5,000.
Farah leads open-seat race
Awale Farah holds the top spot among four candidates for the Position No. 7 council seat to replace Councilmember Dennis Higgins, who decided not to run again.
Farah leads with 34.53 percent (3,445 votes). It’s a tight race for the second spot among Zandria Michaud 24.07 percent (2,401 votes); Ron Johnson 21.68 percent (2,163 votes); and Barry Fudenski 18.94 percent (1,889 votes).
Farah, endorsed by Higgins, has raised $29,560, including a $5,500 loan to himself. Michaud, Johnson and Fudenski each raised or spent less than $5,000.
As of Tuesday, only 16.7 percent (10,726) of the 64,278 registered voters had returned ballots, according to King County Elections.
King County Elections will update results each weekday by 4 p.m. through Aug. 20 until the election is certified.
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