Recount requested of SeaTac $15 minimum wage vote

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SEATTLE (AP) — The election fight over a $15 minimum wagefor airport workers in SeaTac isn’t close
to ending, despite the ballotmeasure’s apparent victory.Common Sense SeaTac, a business-backed group that
opposed the initiative, announced Tuesday it is requesting a recount.Theinitiative, which would require a
$15 minimum wage and a handful ofpaid sick days for about 6,500 workers, won by 77 votes in electionresults
certified Tuesday afternoon. That was out of 6,003 votescounted.Under election rules, a group can request a
recount from King County if it covers the costs."Whenan election is this close, everyone should be
assured the outcome is ascertain as possible," Common Sense SeaTac co-chairman Scott Ostrandersaid in a
statement.The recount request was expected. The SeaTacmeasure drew some $1.8 million in campaign spending in
the small city,with national labor groups supporting the initiative and nationalbusiness groups opposing
it.Backers of the initiative declaredvictory Tuesday at a news conference at Seattle-Tacoma
InternationalAirport. It’s the second time the group has declared victory. They heldan election night
celebration before their 261-vote advantage began toshrink.Washington has the nation’s highest state minimum
wage at $9.19 an hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.Theproposition is also facing a court
challenge, led by Alaska Airlines’owner, Alaska Air Group Inc. The airline is challenging whether
aninitiative can give the city authority over the airport, which isoperated by the Port of Seattle.Copyright
2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.

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