Clallam’s General Election certified

County’s levy lid lift fails, local positions to see some new faces

By Sequim Gazette staff • December 3, 2025 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Carlsborg’s ballot drop box at 261461 U.S. Highway 101 near Sunny Farms and adjacent to Mill Road, is one of two Sequim area drop boxes for local elections, including in the City of Sequim in the parking lot at 651 W. Washington St. in front of the future home of Shipley Center, Sequim’s senior center.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Carlsborg’s ballot drop box at 261461 U.S. Highway 101 near Sunny Farms and adjacent to Mill Road, is one of two Sequim area drop boxes for local elections, including in the City of Sequim in the parking lot at 651 W. Washington St. in front of the future home of Shipley Center, Sequim’s senior center.

The Nov. 4 General Election was officially certified on Nov. 25 with voters notably turning down Clallam County’s levy lid lift proposal.

Proposition No. 1, a levy lid lift for county essential public services, failed with 59.4% opposed (16,353) to 40.6% (11,164) to bring the county’s levy rate for 2026 from 76 cents to 95 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. According to county staff, funds would help support county services, such as criminal justice, public safety, public health, land use and park as the county faces a budget shortfall in 2026.

If it had passed, the owner of a $500,000 home in 2026 would have paid $8 more per month, or $95 more a year in property taxes.

Looking at voter turnout overall for the General Election, it was less than half this year at 47.4% with 28,203 of 59,203 registered voters casting their ballots.

Last year’s General Election included the presidential election and saw about 83.7% turnout (49,023 of 58,598).

In countywide races that Sequim voters had a say in, Charter Amendment No. 1 to remove coroner duties from the prosecuting attorney and have the Board of County Commissioners hire for the position passed with 82.3% (21,870) in favor.

For Hospital District 2 races, challenger Gerald B. Stephanz Jr. for Position no. 1 defeated incumbent Ann Marie Henninger 57.4% (13,713) to 42.3% (10,096).

For Position No. 4, Carleen Bensen won with 13,456 votes (57.9%) over Tara B. Coffin’s 9,644 votes (41.5%), while incumbent Penney Sanders for Position No. 7 won by 340 votes over challenger Laurie Force 50.5% (12,046 votes) to 49.1% (11,706 votes).

For Clallam County Fire District 3 fire commissioner Position No. 3, incumbent Bill Miano grew his lead from an early narrow margin to win 52%-47.6% (6,757-6,188 votes) against challenger Mike Taggart.

Port of Port Angeles incumbents Colleen McAleer, district No. 1 (88.3%), and Steve Burke, district No. 2 (85.4%) both retained their seats over challengers Nate Adkisson and Allen Sawyer. Adkisson withdrew from the race, according to the county’s voter’s guide.

All of the City of Sequim’s council seats and Sequim School Board’s director seats went uncontested with only city councilor Vicki Lowe not seeking reelection and giving her support to retired city worker A. Pete Tjemsland for council position No. 3.

• City of Sequim Position 1: Kelly Burger, 2,101 votes, 99.0%.

• City of Sequim Position 3: A. Pete Tjemsland. 2,136 votes, 99.2%

• City of Sequim Position No. 4: Rachel Anderson, 2,091 votes, 98.7%.

• City of Sequim Position No. 5: Brandon Janisse, 2,078 votes, 98.2%.

• City of Sequim Position No. 7: Nicole Hartman, 2,087 votes, 99.1%.

• Sequim School District, Director No. 2: Patrice Johnston, 9,039, 98.2%*

• Sequim School District, Director No. 4: Maren Halvorsen, 8,922, 98.1*

* These races included votes from both Clallam and Jefferson counties as Sequim School District is in both.

• Clallam County Park and Recreation District No. 1, Commissioner No. 2: Frank Pickering, 8,435 votes, 98.1%.

State voters passed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8201 by 1.1 million votes (57.8%) in favor, according to the Secretary of State’s website.

See full local results online here.

With questions about the Clallam County Election and/or to request a tour, call the Elections Office, 223 E. Fourth St., Room 042, Port Angeles, at 360-417-2221.