Libraries in Sequim, Port Angeles and across the Olympic Peninsula just got a boost.
Three of Sequim’s state House candidates just got a good deal busier.

Election results from Tuesday night’s primary have Sequim’s Steve Tharinger and Jim McEntire looking to advance to the general election as they vie for Majority Leader Lynn Kessler’s state House of Representatives seat.

 

Position 2 State House
Tharinger, a Clallam County commissioner, D-Dungeness and McEntire, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner, R-Sequim, earned the bulk of votes in this top-two primary for state House of Representatives, Position 2.
“Obviously it’s a diverse district and we’re happy with the results districtwide but there’s a lot of work to be done in Clallam and Grays Harbor between now and November,” Tharinger said.
McEntire said he looks forward to “competing vigorously” with Steve Tharinger.
“(I) will get 10 minutes of celebration, a night of sleep. We’ll get back at it tomorrow morning.”
House of Representatives candidates Larry Carter, R-Port Ludlow, and Jack

Dwyer, D-Montesano, trail after the initial ballot count, with about 8 percent of the ballots each.

 

Position 1 State House
Meanwhile, Port Angeles Republican Dan Gase seeks to unseat incumbent Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, in the other state House race after both have leads in the election.
As of Tuesday night, Van De Wege held a 55-36 percent lead versus Gase.
Craig Durgan, R-Port Ludlow, trails the two by a significant margin.
Van De Wege, a firefighter for Clallam County Fire District No. 3, said, “We’re just over 55 percent; that’s where we want to be. People are getting our message and that’s good. We’re in a tough recession and people want to hear about jobs.”

Gase, a real estate broker in Port Angeles, said, “I’m excited. For a first-time politician I’m very pleased with this first inclination. It’s good to be through the primary.”

 

Library gets support
Voters chose to raise the levy lid for the North Olympic Library System.
For the next 10 years, Clallam County residents will pay 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to pay for increased hours, books and materials, programs, maintenance, computer upgrades and more.
This is the first time the library approached voters and passed a levy since 1978.
Jim Roberts, a board member, said the levy lid lift doesn’t help the 2011 budget and that they’ll most likely choose to take from the reserves until the lift money is available.

“There’s still going to be a year where we’re hurting,” Roberts said.

 

County prosecutor
Deb Kelly holds a lead for Clallam County prosecutor with Larry Freedman in second and Lauren Erickson in third.
“I am very appreciative and I’m looking forward to ‘the battle,’” Kelly said.

“I’m glad we made it through this round and I’m looking forward to the general election,” Freedman added.

 

Position 1
District Court judge
If voting numbers stay about the same, incumbent Rick Porter holds on to his District Court judge seat by virtue of securing at least 50 percent of ballots cast.
On Tuesday evening, Porter had garnered about 57 percent of ballots.
Judge candidates Tim Davis (26 percent) and Pam Lindquist (17 percent) trail Porter.
Porter said he thanks God for everything he’s provided him and he thanks his supporters and “in light of all the negativity, voters saw through that (an alleged smear campaign).”
Davis said he was disappointed by Tuesday night’s numbers.
“We started very late and just didn’t get the message out.”
“I’m disappointed; that’s all I can say,” Lindquist said.

Clallam County Bar Association polled its members, who backed Davis as first choice and Lindquist as second.

 

Director of Community Development
Sheila Roark Miller holds a lead in the county director of Community Development race, with John Miller in second and Alan Barnard in third.
“I’m somewhat surprised by the results,” John Miller said. “I had my work cut out for me. I look forward to debating the issues.”
Roark Miller said she intends to work hard the rest of the campaign.
“I believe when the public entrusts you, you need to put your best effort forward,” she said. “From here on out I’m going to continue showing the public that I’m a good servant because they deserve it.”