PORT ANGELES — Thirty-six votes.
That’s all that separates longtime Clallam County lawmaker Mike Doherty from challenger Robin Poole in his bid for a fourth four-year term on the County Commission.
Doherty, a Democrat from west Port Angeles, leads the Beaver Republican 10,795 votes to 10,759 votes — or 0.16 percentage points — in a close race for county commission.
Poole, a UPS driver who has no political experience, held a 176-vote lead when the first 18,889 ballots were processed Tuesday night.
Wednesday’s count did not change the outcomes in any other county races.
9,000 ballots to count
Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand said 3,814 more ballots were processed Wednesday and another 9,000 remain to be tallied.
The Auditor’s Office will release the next batch of results at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
“The Sequim and Forks drop boxes were brought in late this afternoon, and those ballots will be in Thursday’s count,” Rosand said in an e-mail.
“That will be several thousand more ballots.”
There were 45,611 ballots mailed for the county-wide election. Any race closer than 0.5 percent goes to an automatic recount.
“That’s phenomenal,” Poole said of the narrow margin. “It’s extremely exciting.”
Forks ballots remain
Poole said he is encouraged that the Forks drop box ballots remain to be tabulated.
“I believe I’ll do fine out here,” Poole said. “Sequim is still a variable to me.”
Poole said he is hopeful that he will prevail and earn the respect of voters.
“It’s nice that voters put their faith and trust in me,” Poole said.
“Hopefully, I can respond and do it right.”
Doherty was in the West End all day Wednesday meeting with constituents and civic leaders as part of his weekly routine.
He also spent the day removing campaign signs and squeezed in a hike near Neah Bay.
“It basically comes a time to let the voters do their thing, take down signs, do the normal life,” Doherty said.
Doherty speculated that Poole’s strong showing on election night was part of a nationwide groundswell toward Republicans.
He added that he has never been in a political race as close as the one he’s in now.
Campaign funds
Doherty raised $11,126 for the campaign, mainly through a $5,000 loan and $1,000 contributions from the Clallam County Democratic Central Committee and DelHur Industries Inc., according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
The rest came from 18 private citizens.
Poole is mini-reporting, meaning he does not need to file reports on contributions but cannot collect more than $5,000.
Poole must keep records on his contributions and expenditures, however, and cannot accept more than $500 from any one contributor except himself.
Doherty has spent $7,023, the PDC said.
Other county races
In another close contest, challenger Selinda Barkhuis leads incumbent Clallam County Treasurer Judy Scott with 50.73 percent of 19,228 ballots cast — a difference of 9,754 votes to 9,474 votes.
Meanwhile, incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly maintained her lead over challenger Larry Freedman — 52.7 percent (11,395 votes) to 47.3 percent (10,228 votes) — on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling very good about it and am very grateful to the voters,” Kelly said.
Freedman, a Sequim attorney, was not prepared to concede.
“I’m just going to wait until the votes are counted,” he said.
“Obviously, it will be very difficult to make up the difference in the votes that remain, but we’ll see how it plays out.
“People make their decision, and we’ll see where it is.”
Sheila Roark Miller expanded her lead over incumbent Department of Community Development Director John Miller, from 53.2 percent to 53.7 percent — 10,425 votes for her, 8,988 votes for John Miller.
The Millers are not related.
The levy lid lift for Clallam County Fire District No. 6 continued to fall behind, with five votes separating those in support and those against.
A total of 64 people, or 52.03 percent, voted against, with 59 votes, or 47.97 percent, in favor.
The Clallam County Canvassing Board will certify the election at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
