PORT ANGELES — Challenger Mark Ozias was leading incumbent Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire by nearly 1,000 votes in the general election Tuesday night.
Ozias, a Sequim Democrat who is making his first bid for political office, had 7,043 votes to McEntire’s 6,076 votes — a 53.7 percent to 46.3 percent edge — after the county auditor’s office tabulated the first batch of ballots.
“I’m feeling pretty good after seeing the results,” said Ozias, who was gathered with friends and family at a Sequim establishment Tuesday night.
“They certainly bode well for the final count.”
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office tabulated 13,761 ballots on Tuesday night out of 47,481 mailed to registered voters, Auditor Shoona Riggs said.
Another 3,998 were received but not tabulated Tuesday, and 2,000 to 3,000 more were placed in drop boxes and await processing, she said.
The next count will be by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
McEntire, R-Sequim, said he has a “pretty steep hill to climb” to secure a second term on the county board.
“It’s a disappointing place to be,” McEntire said.
“I expected better results, but the people have spoken and we’ll just wait to see what happens on Friday and go from there.”
If anything, Ozias said he expected the late-arriving ballots to trend his direction based on how he fared in the August primary.
“I am thrilled with the numbers,” Ozias said.
Ozias, 45, is the executive director of the Sequim Food Bank.
McEntire, 65, is a retired Coast Guard captain and a former Port of Port Angeles commissioner.
If Ozias is elected, he would earn $69,300 annually.
McEntire would earn $72,800 if re-elected.
Commissioners also receive a $60 monthly car allowance and a $40 monthly cellphone allowance.
They oversee an annual budget, which in 2015 was $33.2 million for the general fund for day-to-day operations.
In addition to the budget, commissioners approve county ordinances, contracts, set a tax levy and serve on regional and statewide boards.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
