Merrill elected, fire bond passes

Bill Merrill, Lon Kellstrom and Sharlene Weed have won election to the Sisters City Council. Merrill polled 435 votes to win a four-year term; Weed secured 393 votes and Kellstrom 356 to each earn a two-year term.

Mayor Dave Elliott was unseated. He polled 348 votes. There were 40 write-ins.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District bond issue for new facilites is headed for a resounding victory, earning nearly 70 percent favorable votes with two of three precincts reporting.

Sheriff's office permanent funding passed with a late surge for the rural district. A county-wide taxing district to fund jail and other service secured a 64 percent to 36 percent "yes" vote. The rural tax district, which will fund patrols, passed narrowly with a 51 percent to 49 percent margin.

Dennis Luke easily won reelection to Position 1 on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, while Republican Tammy Baney appeared headed for a 58 percent to 42 percent win over Mara Stein in the race for Position 3.

A new home rule charter for Deschutes County was defeated.