The race for Napavine’s newest fire commissioner will come down to a hand recount.
Rick LeBoeuf defeated the deceased Tom Crowson for Commissioner Position 2 at Lewis County Fire District 5 by a mere four votes in the Nov. 4 general election.
The slim margin meets the statutory threshold of a difference of fewer than 150 votes and less than one-quarter of 1% of the total votes cast for both candidates.
The Lewis County Canvassing Board will meet Monday, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. at the county auditor’s office in the Historic Courthouse inside Room 128 to conduct the recount.
Though there is limited room inside the ballot processing room, observers can view the recount on a closed-circuit television in the election department’s lobby, according to the auditor’s office.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, following the recount, the canvassing board will hold a public meeting at the courthouse to certify the results. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.
The Historic Courthouse is located 351 NW North St. in Chehalis.
Crowson held a 31-vote lead over LeBoeuf on Election Day. After the following evening’s ballot count, however, Crowson’s lead had shrunk to just nine votes.
Then, on Thursday at 11:36 a.m., the auditor’s office released another update showing LeBoeuf had overtaken Crowson for the top spot — by just three votes.
A final count pushed LeBoeuf’s lead to four.
Assuming the latest count stands, LeBoeuf will join current fire commissioners Sandra White and Mike Goodwillie on the three-person board.
If Crowson ultimately wins the recount, the situation will be treated as if a commissioner had resigned, according to Deputy Auditor Tom Stanton.
In effect, the other two commissioners will have to appoint someone to fill the vacancy, which likely won’t become official until January when elected officials typically assume office.
Crowson finished first in the primary race for Fire District 5 Position 2 on Aug. 5, earning 713 votes to LeBoeuf’s 275.
Incumbent commissioner Sam Patrick finished third in the primary with 172 votes.
Crowson, a longtime firefighter who served as District 5 commissioner from 2015 to 2021, died on July 27 at the age of 73.
