Herb Beck, the longest-serving commissioner on any port board in the state, was losing to challenger Leif Erickson in tonight’s tally of Port of Port Townsend ballots in the general election.
Fellow incumbent Dave Thompson held a comfortable lead over challenger Bob Schuessler in the other port race.
Because more ballots are yet to be tallied from the all-mail election that ended at 8 p.m., close races — like the one between Mari Dressler and Kathy Hill — are too close to call. Dressler held a lead of less than 1%.
Jefferson County, as of 8 p.m., logged a voter turnout of 54.52%, one of the higher percentages among all counties in the state. To compare, Clallam has a turnout of only 36.31%
PORT OF PORT TOWNSEND
Commissioner, District 2
Thompson 5,294
Schuessler 3,824
Commissioner, District 3
Beck 4,656
Erickson 5,212
JEFFERSON HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL
Commissioner, Position 4
Dressler 4,592
Hill 4,524
FIRE DISTRICT 4 (Brinnon)
Eastman 269
McEdwards 272
CEMETERY DISTRICT 3 (Gardiner)
McCauley 63
Quinnell 66