Incumbents advance to general election

It appears voters in Island County Commissioner District 1 are satisfied with the status quo.

The first batch of primary election results were released Tuesday evening and incumbent Democrat Helen Price Johnson has pulled ahead with a commanding lead, securing 3,286 votes, or 57.18 percent.

By comparison, Republican Coupeville challenger Jeff Lauderdale is the runner up but is trailing far behind with 1,377 votes, or just 23.96 percent.

In a telephone interview shortly after the results were released, Johnson, a Clinton resident, said she believes the numbers will begin to even out with later counts but was very pleased by the strong showing of voter support.

“District 1 voters definitely showed their preference,” Price Johnson said. “I’m pleased and very honored.”

Independent Clinton candidate Curt Gordon is in second, securing 13.28 percent of the vote while Republican Wayne Morrison, also of Clinton, has claimed 4.4 percent.

Independent Clinton candidate Ed Jenkins came in last with 1.18 percent.

In the District 2 race, Republican Jill Johnson has a narrow lead over Democratic incumbent Angie Homola with 1,005 votes, 33.86 percent, compared to Homola’s 969 votes, 32.64 percent.

Republican Jim Campbell is in third with 22.84 percent, or 678 votes, while Republican Phil Collier is last with 317 votes, or 10.68 percent.

The EMS levy passed easily with more than 70 percent. The measure to renew the property tax levy for another six years only needed 50 percent to pass.

According to the first count, 13,086 ballots have been counted out of 47,412 total registered voters, equaling a turnout of 27.6 percent. The next count will be Wednesday at 5 p.m.

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