Initial Primary Election results show close numbers for Mason County Commissioner District No. 3, a tight race for Mason County Clerk, Democrat to challenge incumbent for Mason County Auditor, fire levies passing, and incumbents showing well in other county races, the 35th Legislative District and U.S. Representative.
In the seven-candidate race for Mason County Commissioner District No. 3 (the seat currently held by Sharon Trask who is not seeking re-election), Democrat Miguel Gutierrez is the top vote getter with 39.24% (914 votes) followed by three Republicans who are separated by 24 votes after results were released Tuesday night. George Blush is currently in second place with 15.16% (353 votes). Daniel Cameron is third with 14.81% (345 votes). And Eric Onisko is sitting fourth with 14.13% (329 votes). Karen (Schade) Sullivan is next with 7.69% (179 votes). Lovejoy Schaefer has 5.11% (119 votes). And Rick Lee rounds out the field with 3.69% (86 votes).
In the race for Mason County Auditor, Democrat Tamra “Tam” Ingwaldson sits at the top with 42.43% (3,885 votes), followed by Republican incumbent Steve Duenkel’s 36.14% (3,309 votes). Republican Monika Balmer is third with 14.83% (1,358 votes). And Vivian Glass (who states no party preference) received 6.54% (599 votes).
There is a tight race for Mason County Clerk. Republican challenger Tammy Clark has an early 30-vote lead on Republican incumbent Charles Rhodes. Clark has 48.98% (3,685 votes) to Rhodes’ 48.58% (3,655 votes). There are 183 write-ins (2.43%) for this race.
For Mason County Treasurer, incumbent Democrat Brittany Pearson has 54.81% (4,970 votes) to Republican challenger Randy Lewis’ 45.07% (4,087 votes) with 11 write-ins (0.12%).
Mason County Coroner, Prosecutor and Sheriff are running unopposed. Their initial numbers are well over 95%.
Early results for fire levies show overwhelming support.
Central Mason Fire & EMS’ levy is passing with 63.76% approval. That’s 2,212 voting “Yes” and 1, 257 voting “No”.
Mason County Fire District No. 12’s levy is passing with 71.92% approval. That’s 146 voting “Yes” and 57 voting “No”.
North Mason Regional Fire Authority’s levy is passing with 72.10% approval. 1,204 yes votes to 466 no votes.
In the 35th Legislative District, incumbent Republican Drew MacEwen leads Democratic challenger Carolina Mejia 50.71% to 49.17% for State Senator. That’s 11,298 voting for MacEwen and 10,955 voting for Mejia with 27 write-ins (0.12%).
In the three-candidate race for 35th Legislative District State Representative Position No. 1, incumbent Republican Dan Griffey leads with 52.84% (11,730 votes), followed by Democrat Jim Pierson’s 28.71% (6,373 votes), and Democrat Shaena Garberich who garnered 18.38% (4,080 votes). There are 17 write-ins (0.08%).
Incumbent Republican Travis Couture leads Democrat Maria Littlesun 53% to 46.91% for 35th Legislative District State Representative Position No. 2. That’s 11,752 voting for Couture and 10,402 voting for Littlesun with 21 write-ins.
In the 6th Congressional District U.S. Representative race, incumbent Democrat Emily Randall has 60.24% in early returns. Republican Teresa Fox is second with 25.12%. Leon Lawson is third with 9.32%. Brian P. O’Gorman has 3.06%. Macy Jones garnered 2.2%. And there are 68 write-ins or 0.06%.
The top two in the Supreme Court Justices races:
Colleen Melody and Scott Edwards for Positions 1.
David Stevens and Jaime Michelle Hawk for Position 3.
Theo Angelis and Dave Larson for Position 5.
Debra Stephens and Todd Bloom for Position 7.
Additional ballots will be counted in the coming days. The election will be certified on August 18th. Mason County Election officials will be counting more ballots Wednesday, August 5th with updated results expected by 5 PM.