Appointee leading by one vote in Clallam Bay fire district race

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 7, 2019

PORT ANGELES — Appointee Karin Ashton was leading Greg Bellamy Sr. by one vote for Clallam County Fire District No. 5 commissioner as of a Wednesday count of general election ballots.

Ashton has 47 votes to Bellamy’s 46 after the county Auditor’s Office counted more ballots on Wednesday. Voter turnout was 19.26 percent.

Bellamy, a retired state correctional officer, said he had realized it would be a close race.

Ashton, who was appointed as fire district commissioner in 2017 and works as a volunteer coordinator at the Clallam Bay-Sekiu Chamber of Commerce, was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

“I’m grateful for the voters that voted for me,” Bellamy said.

“That’s all I can say about it right now.”

Clallam County Fire District No. 5 commissioners approve a general operating budget that in 2019 was $199,999.

They also levy taxes and propose levies and bonds for voter approval.

Fire District 5 serves Clallam Bay-Sekiu and its surrounding area. It covers 755 square miles of residential and commercial properties, marinas, resorts and motels, state parks, national parks, state Department of Natural Resources lands and the Clallam Bay Corrections Center.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.