PORT ANGELES — Now that they have secured their spots in the general election, Clallam County commissioner candidates Sissy Bruch and Bill Peach said they are looking forward to meeting more constituents and participating in candidate forums.
“It feels like a new campaign,” Bruch said.
Peach, 58, and Bruch, 53, are headed to a contest in the Nov. 4 general election after besting Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon in Tuesday’s top-two primary.
Bruch won 1,452 votes, or 43 percent, while Peach had 1,359 votes, or 40 percent, as of Tuesday.
Monohon, 51, apparently lost his bid to serve as a county commissioner after winning 565 votes, or 17 percent, of the early returns.
Bruch, who does not use campaign signs, has outraised Peach $13,952 to $10,650 — and outspent her opponent $8,533 to $6,034 — as of Wednesday, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Bruch said was grateful for the support she received from District 3 voters and will “recharge” her campaign for countywide issues.
Peach said he hopes to win over some of Monohon’s supporters in the general election.
“Both Bryon and I are known fairly well on the West End,” Peach said. “He’s a good man.”
The county Auditor’s Office will count an estimated 2,000 more ballots through the mail and drop boxes and update the election results by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Bruch is a Port Angeles City Council member and a Democrat. She also works as senior planner for the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
Peach is a retired regional manager for Rayonier Inc. and a Republican. He lives near Beaver and serves as a Quillayute Valley Parks and Recreation District commissioner.
Only the registered voters in Clallam County District 3 voted for the two candidates who will appear on the November ballot for the county commissioner position.
The entire county will vote for retiring Commissioner Mike Doherty’s replacement in the general election Nov. 4.
In District 3, 3,366 ballots were received out of 13,380 issued for a voter turnout of 25.7 percent.
Countywide, 14,670 ballots were returned out of 47,133 issued for a voter turnout of 31.1 percent.
Democratic incumbent 24th District state Rep. Steve Tharinger of Sequim and Republican challenger Thomas W. Greisamer of Moclips remained headed for the general election, according to votes tabulated by the state Secretary of State’s Office as of late Wednesday afternoon.
Tharinger had 17,788 votes, or 58 percent, to Greisamer’s 10,618 votes, or 35 percent, with Stafford Conway of Sequim a distant third with 2,359 votes, or 8 percent.
First-term incumbent Democrat Derek Kilmer and challenger Republican Marty McClendon, both of Gig Harbor, remained the top two vote-getters in the race for Kilmer’s 6th District congressional seat,.
Kilmer, a Port Angeles native, had 68,754 votes districtwide, or 59 percent; McClendon 39,758 votes, or 34 percent; Green Party candidate Doug Milholland of Port Townsend had 4,226 votes, or 4 percent; and W. (Greybeard) McPherson of Port Angeles had 4,091 votes, or 3.5 percent.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.
