With a 725-vote lead in the second vote count Wednesday, parent-activist Kelsi Hamilton has ousted longtime incumbent Vicki Daniels from the Chehalis School Board.
She gained well over 200 votes as counting continued.
“I’m grateful for the support and trust of the community. This election isn’t over but so far the results look promising,” said Hamilton in a Facebook post at 9 p.m. on election night.
“I appreciate all of you that have reached out, supported me along the way, took the time to vote, and share in the vision for amazing schools.”
The updated ballot count for the Chehalis School District No. 3 race shows Hamilton in the lead with 2,178 votes, or 59.67% of the vote, with Daniels receiving 1,453 votes, or 39.81%.
The incumbents prevailed in the other two Chehalis School Board positions on the November ballot.
Colleen State received 2,228 ballots, or 68.28% of the vote in the Chehalis School District No. 4 race.
State, a retired educator, has been on the Chehalis School Board since 2011. Despite announcing that she withdrew her candidacy prior to the election, challenger Maryanna Kruse received 1,000 votes as of Wednesday.
Alan Browning was elected to retain his Chehalis School District No. 2 seat running unnoposed.
Browning, a longtime community member and golf coach, was appointed to replace Brennan Bailey in June and ran unopposed on the November ballot, though 35 votes went to a write-in candidate.
The next ballot count is scheduled for Thursday with an estimated 1,275 ballots left across the county.
The election results will be certified on Nov. 23.
