PORT ANGELES — The Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center metropolitan park district measure failed by more than 19 percent in early returns in Tuesday’s primary election.
The primary election also pared down candidates in races with more than two hopefuls to the top two voter-getters who will face each other Nov. 3.
Incumbent Jim McEntire and Mark Ozias are headed for a November face-off for the Clallam County commission seat representing the east side after
early returns gave both big leads over Brian Frazier.
Connie Beauvais and Michael Breidenbach lead — Biedenbach by only 31 votes over Lee Whetham — as votes were counted on Election Night in the contest to represent the West End on the Port of Port Angeles commission.
Michael Merideth and Marolee Smith appear to be the competitors for the seat now held by Mayor Dan Di Guilio on the Port Angeles City Council.
Heather Short and William Payne were the top-voters in Tuesday’s returns for Position 5 on the Sequim School Board.
Michael Gawley and Sean Ryan are the two candidates voters will choose between for the Clallam County Fire District 3, commissioner 1 seat.
Voters in both Clallam and Jefferson counties voted in the Sequim schools fire district elections, both of which are largely in Clallam County but extend into Gardiner.
On Tuesday night, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 11,457 out of the 43,544 ballots mailed to registered voters for a voter turnout of 26 percent.
Auditor Shoona Riggs said the office has about 2,000 on hand that were not counted.
She expects between 1,000 and 2,000 more to arrive this week.
She said that there may not be enough votes outstanding to change most of the election outcomes.
The next vote count will be by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Metropolitan park district
The metropolitian park district was placed on the ballot to provide funding for the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center, known by the acronym of SARC.
SARC, created as a park and recreation district in 1988 to build the facility at 610 N. Fifth St. — which includes the city’s only public pool — is expected to run out of funding by December 2016.
As a park and recreation district, SARC needs to get a 60 percent supermajority to pass property tax levies.
The facility needed only a simple majority to become a metropolitan park district.
Had the district been approved, the new commission would have had the authority to set permanent levies without voter approval.
The SARC ballot measure said that a 12 cent-per-$1,000 property valuation was “recommended.” However, state law allows a levy of up to 75 cents per $1,000.
The proposed district would have covered the same area as the Clallam County portion of the Sequim School District.
Although commission members selected by voters will not serve, here are the top vote-getters: Position 1 — Warren Pierce; Position 2 — Ken Stringer; Position 3 — Virginia O’Neal; Position 4 — Rich Bemm; Position 5 — Mike McAleer.
County commissioner
The primary race for the District 1 seat on the Clallam County commission was decided by registered voters living in the county’s east side district, which runs from the Jefferson County line to Valley Creek.
Voters countywide will decide the commissioners’ race in the general election.
McEntire, 65, was elected to the county commission in 2012. A Republican living in Sequim, he formerly served on the Port of Port Angeles commission.
Mark Ozias, 45, is the executive director of the Sequim Food Bank. A Sequim Democrat, this is his first run at public office.
Bryan Frazier, 56, is a merchandiser-sales assistant at Costco. A Carlsborg Democrat, this was his first run at public office.
The term is for four years. If re-elected, McEntire would make $72,800. If his challenger is elected, he will make $69,300.
Port of Port Angeles
Four people sought to fill the non-partisan port seat now held by John Calhoun, who is not seeking re-election.
The top two were chosen by registered voters in District 3, which covers the west side of the county from Valley Creek to the Pacific Ocean. The entire county will vote in the general election.
Connie Beauvais, 64, of Joyce, is vice chair of the Clallam County Planning Commission and a member of the 2015 county Charter Review Commission.
She manages the Crescent Water Association and is co-owner of Alpacas of Cedar Wind.
Michael Breidenbach, 63, is a Forks City Council member and a retired senior Northwest sales manager for Rayonier, Inc.
Lee Whetham — third in the tally — is a Port Angeles City Council member. He is a plumber and is 55 years old.
Rick ‘Doc’ Robinson, who came in fourth, is a technical writer, management consultant and business owner living in Port Angeles. He is 62.
The four-year term offers a maximum annual compensation of $13,992.
Port Angeles City Council
Three newcomers to election campaigns competed in the primary for the four-year Position 5 seat on the Port Angeles City Council.
The seat is now held by Mayor Dan Di Guilio, who is not running for re-election.
Voting was citywide.
Michael Merideth, 42, is a truck driver with Bruch & Bruch Construction.
Marolee Smith, 60 is a writer and researcher.
Shan Pak, who is eliminated from the contest, is a software engineer and consultant.
Council members make $550 per month. The mayor and deputy mayor are elected by the council with the mayor compensated with $650 a month and
the deputy mayor, $600 a month.
Sequim School Board
The Position 5 seat on the Sequim School Board is now held by Walter Johnson, who is not seeking re-election.
Ballots were mailed to 21,996 Clallam County voters and to 287 Jefferson County voters.
Heather Short, 38, is a veterinarian and the owner of Sequim Animal Hospital. This is her first run for public office.
Attorney William Payne, 58, was appointed Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney and ran unsuccessful for the spot in 2014.
He also ran unsuccessfully for Clallam County Superior Court judge in 2012.
Charles Meyer, who was eliminated from the general election, is the retired chief of an organization within the National Security Agency. He is 64.
The four-year term has a maximum annual compensation of $4,800.
Although four names were on the primary ballot for Position 1 on the Sequim School Board, two withdrew, leaving only an appointee and a challenger.
Heather Jeffers was named to the position in August 2014 to fill the unexpired term of Sarah Bedinger, who resigned in June that year.
Robin Henrickson will run against her in the general election.
Fire District 3
Clallam County Fire District 3 covers area east of Deer Park Road to Gardiner in Jefferson County.
Ballots were mailed to 23,702 Clallam County voters and to 344 Jefferson County voters.
Michael Gawley, 72, of Sequim, has served in post since February 2014 and served as volunteer with district since 2005;.
He is retired from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sean Ryan, 53, of Port Angeles, ran for this office unsuccessfully against James Barnfather in 2013. He has been a district volunteer for eight years and is a business owner.
Alan W. Slind, who was eliminated from the general election, is a retired chief financial officer living in Port Angeles. He is 76.
The term is for six years. The maximum annual compensation is $10,944.
