PORT ANGELES — Incumbent Rick Porter retained his position for a fourth four-year term over challenger Cathy Marshall as returns came in Tuesday night for the Clallam Country District Court I judge race.
While 6,223 votes or 41.18 percent of early returns went to Marshall, 8,890 votes, or 58.82 percent, had gone to Porter.
Porter, 55, said he campaigned hard this time, putting up signs even before the candidate filing period was over and then knocking on 5,800 doors.
“The response we got from those doors was reflected tonight,” he said.
Marshall, a 60-year-old assistant attorney general who manages the Port Angeles Regional Services Office for the state attorney general, thanked those who voted for her.
She also expressed a hope that others will “continue to shine light” on Clallam County’s District Court.
“I felt that this was the time to make changes in the court,” she said.
“If that’s not to be, I will continue to do the job I do now, and I will love every minute of it.”
The nonpartisan District Court judge position pays $148,881 annually until September 2015.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 18,242 ballots Tuesday out of 46,908 issued for a voter turnout of 38.9 percent, Auditor Patty Rosand said.
The Auditor’s Office received on Tuesday 3,952 ballots in the mail and in drop boxes. Those were not counted, but brought voter turnout to 47.13 percent.
Rosand expects 7,000 more ballots to come in by Wednesday.
The next count of the approximately 11,000 ballots is set for Friday, Rosand said.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
