In primary voter tabulations Tuesday night, the race for Whitman County treasurer ended too close to call with Christina Nelson leading at 51.1 percent and Mark Clinton at 48.9 percent. Both candidates ran as Republicans.

Clinton said he was “a little disappointed” at being down by roughly 100 votes Tuesday night, but would wait to see what happens.

“I do appreciate all the voters that did vote for me,” he said. “Actually, I appreciate all the voters that did vote as it is their duty as citizens.”

Clinton said he spent much of his childhood in Colfax before his family moved away. He moved back to Colfax after graduating from college and has worked in public finance there ever since, he said.

An important aspect of the treasurer job is working with the auditor’s office, Clinton said, which he said he has improved every year.

He said he has 18 years of public finance experience, including one term already as Whitman County treasurer. If re-elected, Clinton said he will focus on written policies.

“I’ve looked at and we’ve gone through a couple of them, but having policies in place for everything we do in the office is a big focus of what I am going to try to do this next term,” he said.

Nelson has said in previous statements she has experience with computer technologies and process flow analysis that she will bring to the treasurer position. She wants to improve accuracy, accountability and security in the treasurer’s office, she said.

Nelson wrote in an email she has learned a lot from the enlightening experience she has gotten from her campaign.

“I’ve met a lot of really great people,” she wrote. “To be a part of the democratic process by running for office is an experience that I will never forget. I’m honored and humbled.”

Nelson wrote she will do her best for the Whitman County residents if elected.

“I will take the office with the determination to do the very best I can for the citizens of this county who have put their trust in me,” she wrote.