It was the battle of the incumbents in Des Moines with Councilman Dave Kaplan defeating Councilwoman Susan White in a landslide for City Council Position 7.

As of Thursday (Nov. 5th) afternoon’s release of the latest vote totals by King County Elections, Kaplan held a +19-point lead, with 59.42 percent (2,641 votes) to 40.02 percent (1,779 votes) over White.

“I’m proud and honored to have been granted another term to serve as your City Councilmember on the Des Moines City Council,” Kaplan told The Waterland Blog.

White was attending a conference out of town and could not be reached for comment.

In 2001, Kaplan was defeated after serving one term on the council – the same year that White was elected to the first of her two terms as councilwoman. Kaplan was elected again in 2005, but instead of seeking re-election to his Position 5 seat this year he opted to oppose White.

Matt Pina, with a current lead of 55.21 percent (2,448 votes) to 44.54 percent (1,975 votes) lead over political newcomer Anne Farmer, will succeed his father, Ed Pina, in City Council Position 1.

The senior Pina is retiring from the council. Earlier, Matt Pina also followed his father as a Highline School Board member.

“I’m happy where (the vote) is right now,” Pina said before Thursday’s vote total update. “It’s a good spot to be in.”

In the closest race this year, incumbent Councilwoman Carmen Scott held a 52.30 percent (2,270 votes) to 47.35 percent (2,055 votes) lead over Melissa Musser, another newcomer to Des Moines politics, for Position 5.

“Obviously, the votes are not all in yet, but I am already feeling very confident about the energy and commitment of our new council members and look forward to our developing a unified plan of cohesive solutions to downtown growth and vigor,” Scott said.

“Beyond that, I know we will all be focused on maintaining parks and recreation programs, finding new sources of revenue, containing expenses, encouraging development of the Port business park land, and redevelopment within Pacific Ridge,” she added.

“Thank you for your vote. I will serve you well.”

The third political newcomer this year, Melissa Musser, was unopposed in her bid for Council Position 5, which previously was held by Kaplan.

Mayor Bob Sheckler said of the election outcome, “I couldn’t be more pleased. When this economy turns around, Des Moines will be in a position to act quickly to further economic development. This is the council that will get us there.”

But the biggest news for many residents was not the results of City Council races but the outcome of Proposition 1, which will establish the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District that will keep the Mt. Rainier Pool open for public use.

Proposition 1 was sweeping to victory by a 62.86 percent to 37.14 percent margin. Had it not been approved, it is likely that the popular community swimming pool – used by beginning swimmers, swim teams and seniors – would have been closed due to lack of funding.

Elected as pool district commissioners were Gene Achziger, Eric Kasnick, Bernadette Barrett, Marty Martinson and Nancy Kuehnoel. All ran unopposed.

UPDATE WED. 11/4/ 5pm: The second round of ballot returns has been released by King County Elections, and with between 28-30% of the votes counted, Dow Constantine still leads with 58%, Matt Pina with 55%, Carmen Scott with 53%, Dave Kaplan at 59% and 62% voting “Yes” on Proposition #1 (to save Mt. Rainier Pool).

Also, Initiative 1033 is still failing with 67% voting “No,” and R-71 is still passing with 67% “Yes.”

Here are the updated results culled from the King County Elections website as of 4:19pm Wed., 11/4/09:

KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 308,650 / 1,079,842 • 28.58%

• Susan Hutchison: 125,607 • 42.26%
• Dow Constantine: 171,006 • 57.53%
• Write-in: 621 • 0.21%

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 308,650 / 1079842 • 28.58%

Initiative Measure No. 1033:

• YES: 92,654 • 33.28%
• NO: 185,721 • 66.72%

Referendum Measure No. 71:

• APPROVED: 202,125 • 66.59%
• REJECTED: 101,403 • 33.41%

CITY OF DES MOINES:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 4,021 / 15,291 • 26.30%

Council Position No. 1:

• Anne Farmer: 1,588 • 44.43%
• Matt Pina: 1,975 • 55.26%
• Write-in: 11 • 0.31%

Council Position No. 3:

• Melissa Ponder: 1,643 • 46.96%
• Carmen L. Scott: 1,841 • 52.62%
• Write-in: 15 • 0.43%

Council Position No. 5:

• Melissa Musser: 2,848 • 98.48%
• Write-in: 44 • 1.52%

Council Position No. 7:

• Dave Kaplan: 2,133 • 59.46%
• Susan White: 1,430 • 39.87%
• Write-in: 24 • 0.67%

Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 2,309 • 62.30%
• NO: 1,397 • 37.70%

Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 1 Interim term

• Gene Achziger: 2,603 • 98.30%
• Write-in: 45 • 1.70%

Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 2 Interim term

• Eric Kasnick: 2,549 • 98.49%
• Write-in: 39 • 1.51%

Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 3 Interim term

• Bernadette Barrett: 2,552 • 98.46%
• Write-in: 40 • 1.54%

Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 4 Interim term

• Marty Martinson: 2,543 • 98.53%
• Write-in: 38 • 1.47%

Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 5 Interim term

• Nancy N. Kuehnoel: 2,298 • 98.33%
• Write-in: 39 • 1.67%

SOUTH KING FIRE AND RESCUE:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 14,732 / 69,240 •21.28%

Commissioner Position No. 2:

• Mark Freitas: 10,484 • 99.39%
• Write-in:  64 • 0.61%

Commissioner Position No. 3

• John Rickert: 7,521 • 63.98%
• J. Roger Hershey:  4,216  •  35.86%
• Write-in:   19 • 0.16%

KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 54:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters:     634     /     2128     29.79%

Commissioner Position No. 3

• Alli Larkin: 431 • 98.85%
• Write-in:  5 • 1.15%

CITY OF BURIEN:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 5, 006 / 16,617 • 30.13%

Council Position No. 1:

• Sue Blazak: 1,981 • 44.83%
• Jack Block, Jr.: 2,413 • 54.61%
• Write-in: 25 • 0.57%

Council Position No. 3:

• Joan McGilton: 3,214 • 97.01%
• Write-in: 99 • 2.99%

Council Position No. 5:

• Rose Clark: 3,212 • 96.69%
• Write-in: 110 • 3.31%

Council Position No. 7:

• Brian Bennett: 3,363 • 98.22%
• Write-in: 61 • 1.78%

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 5,006 / 16,617 • 30.13%

Transportation Benefit District No. 1 Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 958 • 23.50%
• NO: 3,118 • 76.50%

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 1,553 / 4,676 • 33.21%

Council Position No. 2:

• Clarke Brant: 1,025 • 97.99%
• Write-in: 21 • 2.01%

Council Position No. 4:

• John L. Rankin: 972 • 96.05%
• Write-in: 40 • 3.95%

Council Position No. 6 short and full term:

• Marion Yoshino: 995 • 98.03%
• Write-in: 20 • 1.97%

Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 680 • 47.16%
• NO: 762 • 52.84%

HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 401:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 13,664 / 57,961 • 23.57%

Director District No. 2:

• Angelica M. Alvarez: 10,372 • 98.47%
• Write-in: 161 • 1.53%

Director District No. 3:

• Susan Goding: 10319 • 98.53%
• Write-in: 154 • 1.47%

KING COUNTY:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 254,261 / 1,079,842 • 23.55%

Sheriff:

• Sue Rahr: 220,802 • 97.96%
• Write-in: 4,597 • 2.04%

Assessor unexpired 2-year term

• Graham Albertini: 52,192 • 20.91%
• Gene Lux: 12,175 • 4.88%
• Lloyd Hara: 82,864 • 33.20%
• Bob Rosenberger: 72,525 • 29.06%
• Bob Blanchard: 29,041 • 11.63%
• Write-in: 806 • 0.32%

UPDATE WED. 9/2/09: King County Elections certified results for the Aug. 18th primary election, and the final results for Des Moines City Council show that it’ll be Anne Farmer versus Matt Pina for Position #1, and Dave Kaplan vs. Susan White for Position #7.

The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 3rd.

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters:  5,083 / 15,431 • 32.94%

City of Des Moines Council Position No. 1:

• Anne Farmer:  1,871 • 39.13%
• Matt Pina: 1,701 • 35.58%
• John D. Burdine: 1,193 • 24.95%
• Write-in: 16 • 0.33%

City of Des Moines Council Position No. 7:

• Susan White: 1,535 • 31.77%
• Dave Kaplan: 2,568 • 53.15%
• Chris Alexander: 710 • 14.69%
• Write-in: 19 • 0.39%

Don’t forget to look for your mail-in ballots sometime soon, and be sure to mark you calendars for the election, which is Nov. 3rd.