Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Has not said whether he’ll accept role
DAVENPORT — It’s official: a majority of city residents would prefer that J.J. Kowalkowski be the Mayor of Davenport over 8-year incumbent Brad Sweet. The challenger, a former city employee who works grounds at the School District, had an insurmountable 218 votes to Sweet’s 189 after a mostly final count Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Just roughly 30 ballots left to be possibly cured countywide after Tuesday’s count, elections deputy Norm Caley said.
Now, the only question that remains is whether Kowalkowski wants to accept the role of Mayor.
He didn’t provide comments or a decision to The Record-Times after multiple requests from the newspaper this week and hadn’t informed City Hall of his decision by press time Wednesday, city staff said.
Originally, he indicated his desire to withdraw from the race in late May.
But he appeared on the General Election ballot due to state rules that mandate that someone who files to run for office must withdraw by the following Monday of filing week, Caley said.
And not only did he stay on the ballot, he won the race.
Sweet, who has been Mayor for two 4-year terms, wished “everyone” luck after it became apparent he wouldn’t be closing the gap Kowalkowski built as votes were counted.
“After almost 20 years of public service it’s time for me to find my next adventure,” Sweet said.
If Kowalkowski decides to accept the job, he will be sworn in the first meeting of Jan. 2024. If not, city council will appoint the next mayor through an application and interview process.
This is the second time in a row that Davenport voters have voted out an incumbent after that incumbent was in office for eight years. Ironically, Sweet was the challenger eight years ago and was elected over incumbent Mayor Karen Carruth in the 2015 general election.
And Chuck Johnston was elected Mayor over three-term incumbent Ed Hendrickson in the 1999 general election, serving roughly eight years himself before resigning in 2007.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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