PORT ANGELES — David’s done slayin’ Goliath. Next up: that ol’ Queen of Sheba.
In a face-off sponsored by Outside magazine, Port Angeles outpolled Santa Barbara, Calif., by 28 votes — 13,032 to 13,004 — in last week’s first round of the Best Town Ever online contest.
The first heat matched Port Angeles, population 19,190, according to 2013 data, against Santa Barbara, population 90,412, whose male residents alone could fill the seat of Clallam County two-and-a-third times over.
Results of the first round narrowed the field of 64 towns to 32.
Each of the six rounds, each lasting five days, will cut the list in half, with pairs of towns in each contest.
The overall winner will be announced June 5.
Just why Port Angeles and Santa Barbara were set against each other wasn’t explained by the magazine, nor was the point of the whole contest, except that voters had lots of fun vying for bragging rights.
But Port Angeles won’t face just some Southern California pushover now.
It’s up against Bainbridge Island in Kitsap County.
Bainbridge weighs in with 23,196 residents, which puts the two cities at least in the same population class.
But Bainbridge Island arguably could buy Port Angeles outright.
Its median household income in 2012 was $88,508, and an average house or condo was valued at $536,344.
Port Angeles, meanwhile, is lean and keen if not actually mean.
Its median income stood at $37,659 in 2012; the average domicile was worth $188,460.
Think junkyard dog meets pampered pussycat.
The favorite plant of Bainbridge Island is probably a Boston fern.
In Port Angeles, we love our blackberry brambles when we’re not outright cultivating devil’s club.
Still . . .
Bainbridge comes to the bout having bloodied Ashland, Ore., a victory for shopping till you drop over brushing up your Shakespeare.
But as of midafternoon Saturday, Port Angeles had a 1,377-to-991 vote lead over Bainbridge in the contest, which will proceed in NCAA-style bracket eliminations.
If Port Angeles triumphs next week, it will face the victor of the Glenwood Springs, Colo., vs Whitefish, Mont., match.
Meanwhile, Port Angeles was gleeful Saturday over its preliminary win, posting high-fives on Facebook.
“We DID IT!!!!” wrote Melissa Williams.
“Holy crap!!! Twenty-eight votes [the margin of victory]!!!” added Carrie Sanford.
“There’s no stoppin’ us now!!!” posted Leya Heart.
To cast your vote — and your mother’s and your brother’s and your cousin’s and your aunt’s — visit the Outside Online website, www.tinyurl.com/PDN-Outside.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
