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Pollard prepared to concede Mayor will also thank supporters at news conference this afternoon

By Andrea Damewood
Published: November 7, 2009, 12:00am

Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard said he has accepted his defeat by Councilor Tim Leavitt and he will make it official at a scheduled press conference today at noon.

“I can see the handwriting is on the wall,” he said Thursday after updated election totals were released. “I can accept that.”

Still, Pollard told The Columbian he is not calling the press conference a concession, rather an opportunity to thank his supporters and commit to helping the new mayor in the transition.

“I will wish the new administration well,” he said.

Leavitt maintained his 54 percent to 45 percent lead over Pollard on Thursday, with county officials saying about 99 percent of the votes have been tallied.

About 300 to 400 Vancouver city ballots remain, County Auditor Greg Kimsey said.

With Leavitt’s 2,882 vote lead, Kimsey said that even if all the uncounted ballots went Pollard’s way, Leavitt will have still clinched the race.

Leavitt is preparing to host a press conference Monday, said campaign manager Temple Lentz, declining to give more details about what he will say.

Emotions surrounding the contentious race remain high: Lentz confirmed that neither side had yet attempted to contact the other following the rather definitive results.

“Tim is definitely going to reach out to Mr. Pollard,” she said before adding, “This is a major transition for Mr. Pollard, we kind of want to give him the time and space necessary.”

Total countywide turnout for the election was 42.9 percent, down from the auditor’s original estimate of 45 percent. Kimsey characterized that turnout as about average for an odd-numbered election year.

Just over 44 percent of Vancouver city voters mailed in their ballots. Kimsey said that even though “this mayoral race is unlike any we’ve had ever in the city of Vancouver,” the contest did not greatly affect turnout.

“Often it’s statewide issues that really drive turnout,” he explained.

The election results will be certified Nov. 24, Kimsey said.

Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542; andrea.damewood@columbian.com.

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