SEATTLE – Two candidates in separate races in Washington state are both leading their opponents in Tuesday’s elections. Should they both hold on for victory, do not expect any long acceptance speeches. Both candidates are currently dead.

In the Seattle suburb of Des Moines, John Rosentangle won 71 percent of the vote over write-in candidates in the King County Water District 54. Rosentangle died last August of an illness. He was 63.

In a city council race on the Washington coast in Aberdeen, John Erak, also dead, is leading Alan Richrod, very much alive, with 53 percent of the vote. The 81-year-old Erak was a former state representative and died in June shortly after announcing he was running to retain his seat. As of yesterday his lead was only 12 votes, and the results weren’t final.

Both men died after the filing period closed and their names could not be removed from ballots.

Should both candidates win, they will still be dead.