PORT ANGELES — Clallam County’s election outcomes remained unchanged after a third count of ballots on Thursday in Tuesday’s general election.
Voter turnout was 58.27 percent after Thursday’s count. Jefferson County’s voter turnout was 61.6 percent. The statewide turnout was 44.87 percent.
Results so far show Port Angeles City Council member Mike French, a Democrat, leading incumbent Republican Bill Peach in the race for the Clallam County Board of Commissioners District 3 position with 52 percent of the vote to Peach’s 48 percent.
French, a Democrat, said Thursday before the announcement of the third count’s results that he was optimistic but holding off on celebrating.
“I’m feeling good, but I definitely want to see the rest of the votes get counted,” French said. “I’m really excited to see more results this afternoon.”
French said he felt his focus on housing for people of all income levels resonated with voters and that he was excited to work on that issue for the county if elected. He thanked county election workers for doing what he said was a difficult job, and said he had a lot of trust in the county’s election process.
Peach could not immediately be reached for comment.
Former Sequim Mayor Ken Hays appeared ready to unseat long-time incumbent Will Purser for Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1 Board of Commissioners, District 1.
Hays was leading Purser 51 percent to 49 percent Thursday evening.
Hays said Thursday he was cautiously optimistic.
“We’re waiting to see how it comes out,” Hays said. “We always expected it to be close, and it’s proving to be.”
Purser could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to the latest results for Clallam County, 23,381 ballots have been counted with another 6,500 remaining. The next count will be Friday.
Clallam County, like the state at large, voted to repeal two taxes enacted by the state Legislature in advisory votes that appeared on the ballot. Advisory Vote No. 39, which asked voters to decide on increase in aircraft fuel, was repealed statewide by of 59 percent to 41 percent, according to the Office of the Secretary of State’s most recent results, and in Clallam County by 62 percent to 38 percent.
Advisory Vote No. 40, a tax on “transportation network companies” was repealed statewide by 53 percent to 47 percent and in Clallam County by 54 percent to 46 percent.
The reelection of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, was approved in Clallam County by 53 percent to Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley’s 47 percent. Statewide, Murray beat Smiley 57 percent to 43 percent.
The reelection of U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat who’s represented Washington’s 6th Congressional District since 2013, was approved by Clallam County with 55 percent of the vote to Republican Elizabeth Kreiselmaier’s 44 percent. Districtwide, Kilmer won 61 percent to 39 percent.
Steve Hobbs, Democratic candidate for the Washington Secretary of State, appears to be headed to victory statewide with a lead of 50 percent to 47 percent over nonpartisan challenger Julie Anderson, but in Clallam County, Anderson was the winner.
Clallam County voted for Anderson 49 percent to 47 percent.
State legislative incumbents Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger, both Democrats, retained their seats against Republican challengers Sue Forde and Brian Pruiett.
Latest county results show Chapman leading Forde 54 percent to 46 percent and Tharinger leading Pruiett 52 percent to 48 percent. Districtwide, Chapman was leading Forde 58 percent to 42 percent and Tharinger leading Pruiett 57 percent to 43 percent.
The race for Clallam County’s uniquely elected position, director of the Department of Community Development, has already been conceded to former planner Bruce Emery, who took 66 percent of the vote to former Port Angeles Mayor Cherie Kidd’s 34 percent.
Kidd conceded the race to Emery on Wednesday.
The race for Clallam County Sheriff was won handily by Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King, who won 76 percent of the vote over Port Townsend Police Officer Marc Titterness, who won 24 percent.
Several candidates for county positions ran unopposed and were all elected to their respective positions. Candidates who ran unopposed in the election are Clallam County Treasurer, Jennifer White; County Assessor, Pamela Rushton; County Auditor, Shoona Riggs and Prosecuting Attorney, Marc Nichols.
Clallam County voters also approved the three unopposed state Supreme Court Justices, Mary Yu, Barbara Madsen and G. Helen Whitener. Other unopposed judicial candidates approved by Clallam County voters include Court of Appeals, Division, District 2, Position 1 Judge Erik Price; District Court 1 Judge Dave Neupert and District Court 2 Judge Bruce Hanify.
The election will be certified Nov. 29.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.