News-Times Whidbey
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 | Vol. 124, No. 89 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Hannold, Grone take early lead By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
It appears from the first count of ballots Tuesday night that the Republican momentum nationwide was felt in Island County. Republican candidates are ahead in all but one of the contested local and legislative races affecting Island County. The race for the new Island County commissioner, however, is too close to call. Republican candidate Rick Hannold, a North Whidbey resident, is ahead of Camano Island Democrat Karla Jacks by just 301 votes. Hannold has 11,868 votes, or 51 percent, while Jacks has 11,567, or 49 percent. In an interview after the results came in, Hannold said he was expecting a close race. “It’s too early to get excited,” he said, noting that he was behind in the first count of the primary race. Hannold said he was grateful to his loyal volunteers, who he said made up for the big disparity in spending between him and Jacks. “It was really a shoe leather, grassroots campaign,” he said. In the spirited race for county treasurer, Republican candidate Wanda Grone is ahead of her former boss, incumbent Ana Maria Nunez, a Democrat. Grone has 12,459 votes cast in her favor, or 54 percent, while Nunez has 10,507 votes, or 46 percent. Grone said Tuesday that she’s crossing her fingers. “I’m encouraged by the early vote count,” she said, “but I learned in the primary the person with the most votes isn’t necessarily the person who wins.” Nunez offered a prepared statement. “During our nation’s worse recession,” she said, “I was able to invest our scarce dollars to see gains and more importantly my office kept people faced with tax foreclosures in their homes. I hope the good citizens of Island County will continue to be as well served as I have served them.” Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider, a Republican, is ahead with 12,368 votes, or 56 percent. Challenger Rebecca Wagner, an independent, garnered 9,553 votes, or 44 percent. In state Legislative District 10, Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, is far ahead of Libertarian challenger Michael Scott. Smith has 77 percent in the district while Scott has 23 percent. Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano, is also leading his opponent, Skagit County Democrat Nick Petrish. Hayes has 59 percent of the vote and Petrish has 41 percent. The one bright spot for Democrats is the race for the U.S. House seat. Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democratic, is ahead of Republican challenger B.J. Guillot. Larsen has 62 percent and Guillot has 38 percent.
WSP to investigate Island Transit Prosecutor asks police to review audit findings By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
The Washington State Patrol agreed to conduct a criminal investigation into “certain conduct” described in an audit report of Island Transit, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said Monday.
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Photo by Jessie Stensland/Whidbey News-Times
Coupeville resident Luanne Raavel looks through police reports of her son’s assault Tuesday morning. She obtained the paperwork after a deputy prosecutor declined to file charges against the suspect.
Prosecutor reopens case, files charges By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Daniel Raavel was sleeping on a friend’s couch last June and woke up to a “crack.” Raavel would later tell a deputy he looked up to see another young man hold-
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Banks said State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the investigation, but he hasn’t discussed it with detectives yet and doesn’t know the timeline. Banks and Island County Sheriff Mark Brown decided it would be best if an outside agency conducted the investigation because of the potential of a conflict of interest. Island Transit’s board of directors is
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Banks said the investigation will look into “irregularities in compensation” described in the recently released report from the State Auditor’s Office. Banks said he didn’t want to be too specific because the investigation may be larger in scope. The accountability audit largely focused on Martha Rose, the former executive director of Island Transit. The auditors said they found discrepancies between Rose’s calendar and her vacation leave balance.
ing a wooden cane and yelling at him to get out of the house. Raavel soon realized he was bleeding from a gruesome wound on his forehead. He walked to a neighbor’s house and asked the resident to call 911.
Paramedics rushed Raavel to Whidbey General Hospital. Doctors discovered his skull was fractured and pieces of bone were stuck in his sinus cavity. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in SEE SEEKING JUSTICE, A26
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