PORT TOWNSEND — Mari Dressler is Jefferson County’s newest hospital commissioner, Leif Erickson and Dave Thompson both retained their leads for Port of Port Townsend commission seats, and two other races in Jefferson County remained too close to call after a second count of votes Thursday.
After counting a total of 14,126 ballots received in Tuesday’s general election, the races for Brinnon Fire District and Gardiner Cemetery commissioner are still so close that both will be selected for manual recount after the election is certified on Nov. 24, said Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge.
Brinnon Fire Commissioner Ken McEdwards leads by eight votes against challenger Mike Eastman as he attempts to retain his seat, and Richard Quinnell is ahead of Bob McCauley by only one vote in the race for the Gardiner Cemetery commissioner.
An additional 44 ballots have yet to be counted. They arrived in the mail Thursday and have not yet been verified. Also, 37 ballots have been flagged due to problems with the signatures. If the issues are resolved, those votes will be added to the final tally.
“It’s very exciting,” said Dressler, a retired registered nurse, after hearing Thursday that she had defeated longtime incumbent Kathy Hill.
“But now comes the hard work. The baby is born, and now it’s time to take care of it. Kathy has done a terrific job but I wanted to bring a unique and fresh perspective to the board.
“I thank everyone in the community who came out and voted.”
The auditor’s office mailed 21,983 ballots to registered voters. Voter turnout in Jefferson County is 64.3 percent.
The next count of ballots will be at noon Tuesday in the auditor’s office.
Dressler wins
Mari Dressler defeated longtime Jefferson County Hospital commission incumbent Kathy Hill by 287 votes in the countywide race for Position 2.
Thursday’s count found that she had 5,443 votes, or 51.03 percent, to Hill’s 5,156 votes, or 48.34 percent.
Of the 14,126 ballots returned, 3,459 did not vote in the hospital commission race, while 68 ballots had write-in candidates for the position.
Hill has served on the commission for Public Hospital District 2 — which oversees Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend and extends thoughout the county — for 20 years.
The race was too close to call on Tuesday night, when Dressler led by 68 votes.
On Thursday, Dressler stood nervously in the auditor’s office as she awaited the results.
When the totals were read aloud she slapped her hands, looked at her supporters and said, “Can you believe it?”
Hill, a weight coach with Weight Watchers of North America, said she wished the best to Dressler in her new role.
“I am obviously disappointed in the turnout in the returns,” she said, “But congratulations to my opponent.”
Port outcomes unchanged
The outcomes of the races for two Port of Port Townsend commissioner seats remained unchanged Thursday.
Leif Erickson has unseated longtime incumbent Herb Beck and Dave Thompson has kept his seat against challenger Bob Schuessler.
Erickson took 6,088 votes, or 52.67 percent, to Beck’s 5,413 votes, or 46.83 percent, after 11,558 ballots were counted. There were 57 write-in votes.
Thompson took 6,177 votes, or 57.98 percent, to Schuessler’s 4,403, or 41.33 percent after 10,654 ballots were counted. There were 74 write-in votes.
Brinnon Fire District
As of Thursday’s count, McEdwards had 304 votes, or 50.67 percent, while Eastman, had 296 votes, or 49.33 percent, after 600 ballots had been counted.
However, the lead is not insurmountable for Eastman.
Eldridge said nine ballots from Brinnon voters have yet to be counted.
Also, the office is awaiting military and overseas ballots which could come in from the Brinnon precinct.
Eastman said he was hopeful that the race would turn around after next Tuesday’s count.
“I sure hope the rest of the ballots that are sitting there have votes for me,” he said.
McEdwards also was optimistic.
“It looks pretty good for me, but still you never know,” he said.
“If I am chosen as the fire commissioner, I look forward to continuing to make the fire district a better service for the people of Brinnon.”
Gardiner cemetery commission
In the race for Gardiner Cemetery commissioner, Quinnell has 69 votes, or 49.64 percent, while Bob McCauley has 68 votes, or 48.92 percent, after Thursday’s count of 139 ballots.
There were two write-in votes for the position.
Eldridge said two ballots have yet to be counted from voters in the Gardiner district.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
