PORT ANGELES — The counting of 5,774 more ballots on Friday in Clallam County affected only one race.
In the closely contested campaign for a commissioner’s seat in Fire Protection District No. 4, Donna Kay Buck has apparently defeated Cindy Bryant by two votes, 385 to 383.
Throughout the election counts that began Nov. 8, Bryant has held the lead, but never by much.
Clallam County Elections Coordinator Patty Rosand said the margin of victory — 0.26 percent — will require a state-mandated recount.
In the other two close races, incumbent Port Angeles City Council member Larry Williams won his third term, holding off a challenge by Planning Commission member Cherie Kidd 3,257 votes to 3,121 votes.
Williams held his 2.14 percent margin of victory throughout most of the count.
“I appreciate everybody that voted, whether for me or my challengers,” Williams said.
“I especially appreciate the votes of confidence that I’ve received. It was a hard campaign.”
“I just really appreciate the people of Port Angeles getting out and voting,” Kidd said.
“I’m really glad I ran and brought out the issues. This was a great year to campaign, so many great issues.”
In the close race for Port Angeles School Board, challenger Patti Happe, who trailed after the initial count on Nov. 8, defeated appointed incumbent Lynn Geren 5,201 votes to 4,537 votes, for a 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent margin of victory.
“I’m just really, really pleased,” Happe said on Friday while she was driving home from the Washington State School Directors Association conference in Seattle.
“I’m deeply appreciative of the confidence and faith people have expressed by voting for me, and I hope to live up to it,” she said.
Port Angeles School District Superintendent Gary Cohn invited Happe to the conference after Tuesday’s results were released.
