ELECTIONS 2014
Published 9:02 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Nov. 3 — the day before election day — brought in 3,558 ballots from the weekend, bringing the total ballots cast as of Monday to 18,242 of a possible 46,915 registered voters (a return rate of about 38.9 percent), according to Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand.
“I expect to get about 7,000 ballots in the mail and from drop boxes tomorrow,” Rosand said. “After that things will quiet down.”
The auditor’s office has on hand another 3,952 ballots with valid signatures that are not part of Tuesday’s total, bringing the general election turnout to 47.3 percent. Election officials will begin opening those tomorrow (Nov. 5) and the ballots will be reported later this week.
The next general election count is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. The election is certified on Nov. 25.
State Rep. Position 2
In the race for Legislative District 24’s State Rep. Position 2, incumbent Steve Tharinger (D-Dungeness) racked up 67.1 percent of the general election ballots outpacing Republican Thomas W. Greisamer (32.1 percent) of Moclips.
In Clallam County, Tharinger holds a slimmer, 51.6-48.3 percent advantage over Greisamer (12,708 to 11,877 votes). In Grays Harbor he leads 5,197 votes to 4,370 votes. In Jefferson he leads 10,220 votes to 4,991 votes.
Tharinger said the results so far are in line with the primary and his race two years ago.
“In my line of work, you make friends and sometimes you don’t, but in general the work I’m doing, the positives outweigh the negatives,” he said.
Through his campaign, Tharinger said growing the economy with more jobs and funding education properly were the most discussed topics.
“In the 24th District, we have some of the highest unemployment in the state,” he said. “Continuing with challenges of mills closing and the natural resource industries struggling. How do we transition and strengthen?”
When he goes back to the legislative session in 2015, Tharinger said he anticipates a lot of talk about budgets and struggles for cities and counties. Greisamer said he’s thankful for the support he received through the district.
“For a guy who is unknown with no political experience, I’m grateful to the thousands of people who voted for me,” he said.
“I’m a little disappointed it didn’t come out a little better but I feel I did bring up a lot of issues that will come up again in two years.”
Greisamer said he felt he needed to be a politician to win.
“I thought I had a good message but it’s hard to get your message out there,” he said.
He feels the biggest issue in the district was the lack of job opportunities.
“It’s not apparent at a superficial glance but in 30 years we have had more businesses go out than start,” he said. “That’s a dire sign.”
Following this campaign, Greisamer said he plans to remain active with the Republican Party but does not have plans to run again at this time.
U.S. Representative, Sixth District
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer earned 70.2 percent of votes in the general election results to defend his 6th District Congressional seat, outpacing Republican Marty McClendon of Gig Harbor, 37,135 votes to McClendon’s 11,081 (29.8 percent).
Kilmer, a Port Angeles native, tallied 57 percent of the votes among Clallam voters, with McClendon earning 42 percent.
“I’m grateful that folks have chosen to hire me again,” Kilmer said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. There are still too many people out of work and too many families who are feeling squeezed.
“Rather than focusing on partisan games, I’ll keep going to work every day focused on the folks I represent. And I’ll keep working hard to get this economy and this Congress back on track.”
Clallam County Commissioner District 3
In the tightest race in Clallam County, Republican Bill Peach of Forks leads Democrat Sissi Bruch of Port Angeles for the Commissioner District 3. Both are seeking to replace outgoing commissioner Mike Doherty.
Peach has 12,289 votes to Bruch’s 11,678 votes, a 51.2-48.7 margin.
“We’re on a holding pattern right now and we will continue on that until we know for sure,” Bruch said.”I have had so much help throughout this campaign and it has been a huge learning curve,” eh said. “I’ve learned a lot and have met many amazing people through this experience.”Bruch said she will continue her work as as the senior planner for the Lower Elwha Tribe and Port Angeles City Council.
“I look forward to being able to focus on just those two things again because we’ve really been at this since May,” she said. Clallam County Director of Community Development
Incumbent Sheila Roark Miller will not keep her Director of Community Development position after challenger Mary Ellen Winborn gained 61.7 percent of the votes for the non-partisan office, to Roark Miller’s 38.2 percent (13,418 votes to 8,297).
“I am just blown away by it,” Winborn said. “It’s hard to believe. I have had so many people that have been such great supporters and have stood by me through this.”
“Well, honestly, I think a lot of it was whole marijuana issue in rural residential neighborhoods. I think I got a lot of support because of my stance on that,” Winborn said.
“I think another third of my support was because Sheila Roark Miller has mistreated a lot of people and another third is simply because I have lived here for 22 years and I know a lot people,” Winborn said.
I want that department (DCD) to be the department that everyone in the county wants to work for and the department people look forward to working with,” Winborn said.
“I am really excited to see what we can do. The people that I know in the department – I am sure they are talented and hard workers and they just need some good leadership and someone they can trust,” Winborn said. Sheila Roark Miller was unavailable for comment.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney
Port Angeles’ Mark Nichols holds a lead over incumbent William Payne of Sequim in the race for Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney. Nichols has 11,058 votes (52.4 percent) to Payne’s 10,025 (47.5 percent). Both are Republicans.
“I’m encouraged at the return thus far,” Nichols said. “I’ve had a tremendous support team in the county.”
Payne was appointed to the position in early 2014 after county prosecutor Deb Kelly stepped down.
“I think it’s still pretty tight,” Payne said. “There are about 3,000 left to count. I’m a little disappointed. I knew it was a tough race, a tough campaign. I hope some more ballots come in. I’m still optimistic.”
Nichols said he’s cautiously optimistic, considering the number of ballots still to be counted.
“I’m eagerly awaiting for Friday’s results,” Nichols said.Clallam County Auditor
In the race to fill the position opened by outgoing Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand, Shoona Riggs has a commanding lead over challenger Kim Yacklin.
Riggs has garnered 59.1 percent of ballots (12,124 votes) to Yacklin’s 40.8 percent (8,378).
Clallam County District Court 1 Judge
Incumbent Rick Porter has jumped out to a sizable lead in his quest to retain his District Court 1 Judge seat.
Porter garnered 12,375 votes (58.3 percent) to challenger Cathy Marshall’s 8,837 votes (41.6) for the non-partisan office.
“Well, first I thank my God for giving me the perseverance to make it through another election,” Porter said.
“I am very happy and just delighted to serve the citizens of Clallam County for another four years,” Porter said. “During the campaign we were able to go to more than 5,800 doors and I got a real sense for what the concerns were.”
“The issue in this campaign was really the pay or appear program, but I found an overwhelming support for the program so I am not really surprised with this outcome, but with that said I don’t take anything for granted,” Porter said.
“So far I feel like I would like better numbers, but I am OK,” Marshall said. “We gave him a run for his money and I am not throwing in the towel yet,” Marshall said.
“My future plans are to stay as manager at the Attorney General Regional Services in Port Angeles,” Marshall said. “I do wonderful work and I will continue to do my work and love it.”
“I learned a lot and we ran a good campaign and worked hard to our vision to the voters,” Marshall said. “I and thankful to all of those who voted for me.”
“If I am not the one to be the judge, then I am hoping others will continue to shine light on the problems with this court and solutions will come about,” Marshall said. Charter Review, District 1
(Sequim, Blyn and neighboring areas):
The leading five vote-getters for Charter Review, District 1, include Sue W. Forde (12.9 percent), Ken Hays (10.7), Ronald Bell (9.7), Nola E. Judd (9.0) and Ted Miller (8.7).
Others running for one of five Charter Review positions in the first district are: Jerry Sinn (8.6), Timothy Bruce (6.9), Bryon C. Gunnerson (6.5), Jon Alan Kirshbaum (6.0), Bill Lowman (6.0), Anita L. Ready (5.8), Brandon Janisse (5.4) and Henning Holmgaard (3.2).
Charter Review, District 2
(Port Angeles east of Valley Street, Agnew, Carlsborg and neighboring areas west of Sequim):
The leading five vote-getters for Charter Review, District 2, include Glenn Wiggins (10.9 percent), Norma E. Turner (9.8), Maggie Roth (8.8), Steven Burke (7.1) and Selinda Barkhuis (6.8).
Others running for one of five Charter Review positions in the district are: Diane Haffner (6.3), Patti Morris (6.2), Kaj Ahlburg (5.9), Robert Robertsen (5.8), Stephanie Noblin (5.1), Scott A. Clausen (4.9), Dennis R. McBride (4.9), Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin (4.8), Susan Shotthafer (4.1), Sean Ryan (3.9), Judi Hangartner (2.7) and Marcia Farrell (1.8).Initiative Measure No. 1351 — concerning K-12 education
Statewide, voters are turning down an initiative that would mandate a teacher-to-student ratio of 17:1 in grades kindergarten through third grade, to the tune of 33,411 votes to 27,669 (54.7 percent to 45.3). In Clallam County, the split is similar (53.4 no votes to 46.6 for).
Initiative Measure No. 591 — concerning firearms
Washington state voters are rejecting I-591, 54.5 percent to 45.4 percent, a measure that would prevent the government from confiscating firearms without due process and implementing background checks unless a federal standard is established.
In Clallam County, voters are approving the measure by a narrow margin, (52 percent to 47).
Initiative Measure No. 594 — concerning background checks for firearm sales and transfers
Voters in Washington state are approving I-594 with 58.9 percent yes votes. The measure would require background checks to be run on every person purchasing a gun in the state of Washington, even those who are doing so via private sales.
Clallam County voters, are also in favor of the measure by a 52.4-47.5 margin.
Statewide, voters are approving Initiative Measure No. 1351 with 8f21,346 yes votes to reduce classroom size to 819,078 no votes.
