PORT ANGELES – First results from yesterday’s primary show a former Port Angeles mayor and former county planner garnering the top two positions to be the next county community development director.
Former employee in the department, Bruce Emery, leads all candidates in the race with 4,899 votes. Cherie Kidd is second just 374 votes behind. Jessie Major received 3619 votes and Kevin Russell finished fourth with 2388 votes.
In a primary for 24th District State House, incumbent Democrat Mike Chapman cruised to an easy first-place finish. Chapman took 60 percent of the district-wide vote. Republican Sue Forde is advancing as his challenger in the general election. Forde finished second with 27 percent of the vote. Republican Matthew Rainwater took just under 13 percent of the vote.
In the other state house race, incumbent Democrat Steve Tharinger received 54 percent of the vote. Republican Brian Pruiett will advance to take on Tharinger in the general election. Pruiett brought in 39 percent of the vote.
Clallam County elections officials counted about 16,400 ballots last night. Another seven thousand are left to be counted as of last nights ballot return deadline.