SEQUIM –– Ted Miller appeared headed to a second term on the Sequim City Council, staking out a 294-vote lead over challenger Brandon Janisse in Tuesday night’s initial count.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Miller, currently the city’s mayor pro tem.
“I’m so proud to be on this City Council, where we have seven people who all have their own opinions, but who all care most about what’s best for Sequim.”
Miller, a 67-year-old retired attorney and systems analyst, earned 740 votes, or 62.4 percent, while Janisse, a 28-year-old photo tech at Walmart and a Sequim High graduate, took 446 votes, or 37.6 percent.
Miller ran on a platform of holding developers responsible for their impacts to city services.
“I have no problem with Sequim growing. I absolutely want Sequim to grow,” Miller said Tuesday night at defeated Port of Port Angeles candidate Del DellaBarre’s home outside Sequim.
“But I want to make sure developers pay their fair share. They make the profits, they should have to pay for it.”
Janisse said he felt it was a good showing for his first political race.
“I’m definitely disappointed I didn’t win. I guess we’ll take a couple years and see what we want to do then,” Janisse said.
Miller praised his opponent, also urging Janisse to consider another run.
“I think he absolutely represents the future of Sequim,” Miller said. “Fortunately I had that half-century on him.”
The four-year council position is responsible for setting city ordinances and overseeing operations within the city budget that in 2013 is $27 million.
Next year’s budget is projected at $55.3 million, most of which includes construction of a new city hall and police station.
Council members are paid $150 per month. The mayor is paid $250.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 15,348 ballots, or 32.8 percent, of the 46,668 ballots mailed to registered voters. Some 4,275 were mailed to Sequim voters.
About 5,000 ballots were on hand but uncounted and more are expected before the next count, which will be by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Auditor Patty Rosand expects voter turnout to exceed 50 percent by the time all ballots are in.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
