A proposal to create a Methow Valley Recreation District was being overwhelmingly rejected and was headed for a clear defeat in the first set of voting returns released Tuesday (April 22) by the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office.
With 2,451 ballots counted and 383 left to count, the tally was 1,525 no votes (80 percent) and 380 yes votes (20 percent).
At the same time, voters were asked to choose five at-large commissioners to oversee the district if it was created. Thirteen candidates filed for the commission seats. None of the five candidates endorsed by Friends of the Park District, which supported the proposal, was leading as of Tuesday.
The district’s boundaries were to be the same as those of the Methow Valley School District. Only voters living within the school district could vote in Tuesday’s special election.
