Lewiston and Clarkston: A Tale of Two Elections

Lewiston's recent local elections brought a mix of surprises and predictability, with voter turnout reaching 34%, a significant increase from the 18.93% in 2023 but still below the 42.9% seen in 2021.

Incumbents Dominate

Despite dull campaigns with minimal advertising and door-to-door activity, incumbents secured their positions:

• Mayor Dan Johnson won a second term with 63.24% of the vote.
• City councilors Kassee Forsmann and Matthew Wright retained their seats.
• Newcomer Bryan Moree also joined the council.

Bond Proposal Rejected

All four supported a $22.5 million bond for updating downtown infrastructure, but voters rejected it by nearly 700 votes, a wider margin than a similar proposal in May.

• Support varied by neighborhood: Stronger in areas directly affected, weaker in the Orchards area.
• Voters trusted incumbents to manage the city but not to handle the bond's financial implications without raising property taxes.

Clarkston's EMS Levy Defeated

In Clarkston, a small town of 7,300 people, voters broke a long-standing trend by rejecting an emergency medical services levy.

• Previous support: Over 65% in past elections.
• Current result: 58% to 42% against the levy.

Reasons for Defeat

• Significant increase in levy rate: For a $300,000 home, the EMS tax bill would have risen from $451 to $793, a 76% increase.
• Opposition from prominent businessman and Asotin County Commissioner Brian Shinn.

Future of EMS Services

Clarkston now faces tough decisions:

• Using reserve funds to prop up the service.
• Laying off staff.
• Exploring regional cooperative arrangements.