School levies mostly advance in Okanogan and Douglas Counties, Brewster and Bridgeport await final tally

BREWSTER – The first round of election results from the Okanogan and Douglas County auditors’ offices show a near-majority of school levies passing, with Brewster falling short in Douglas and Bridgeport holding onto a slim 2.5 percent lead.

BREWSTER

Brewster needs help from Okanogan voters to reach the required 50-plus-1 percent margin for its Proposition 1 levy to clear the hurdle. At this writing (Wed. Feb. 14), Okanogan voters are split 191 in favor and 190 opposed - a winning margin of only 50.13 percent. Douglas County’s 79 ballots are less supportive, with 44 (55.7%) opposed and 35 (44.3%) in favor.

BRIDGEPORT

School administrators are cautiously optimistic that Bridgeport’s lead in both Douglas County, where 53.42 percent of its 146 voters support the levy while 46.58 percent do not. In Okanogan County, the margin is 57.14 percent in favor and 42.86 percent among seven votes counted.

“We are being cautiously optimistic about the levy results,” said Superintendent Scott Sattler. “When you look at the combined county results, we are sitting at 53.5 percent passing and only ahead by 11 votes. I think we will wait until Friday (Feb. 16) before we decide to celebrate. Bridgeport has a long tradition of supporting the school levy, so I am very hopeful the favorable vote holds.”

Levies for Mansfield, Nespelem, Waterville, Omak. Methow Valley, Tonasket, and Oroville are all at or above 55 percent passage.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media