PORT TOWNSEND — Challenger Michael Haas was ahead of incumbent Jefferson County Prosecutor Scott Rosekrans in primary election-night countywide balloting that will have no impact on the fact that both will meet again in the Nov. 4 general election.
Haas had 4,198 votes, or 56 percent of the votes counted, to Rosekrans’ 3,148 votes, or 42 percent.
There also were 98 write-ins, or 1.32 percent of the total.
Both candidates are Democrats.
The election still had meaning for Haas despite its “beauty contest” nature, he said.
“I am obviously very pleased with the results,” said Haas, 53.
“It means our message was getting out to folks. I’m extra grateful to the people who contributed to my campaign in terms of time, energy and support.”
Rosekrans did not return calls Tuesday night asking for comment on the results.
All partisan races are on the ballot, even those with two or fewer candidates.
Nonpartisan races with fewer than three candidates will not appear on the ballot.
The Jefferson County Elections Office sent out 22,877 ballots and had 9,641 returned as of Tuesday.
Jefferson County election workers counted 9,641 ballots tonight that included ballots received by mail Tuesday and from two drop boxes emptied this morning.
The next scheduled count is by noon Friday, but it might be Thursday, Voter Registration Coordinator Sandi Eldridge said Tuesday afternoon.
“If some races are close, it’s not fair to hold the ballots,” she said.
Rosekrans, who graduated from Sam Houston State University in Texas and has a law degree from the South Texas College of Law, was a criminal defense attorney in Texas before moving to Port Townsend to become a Jefferson County deputy prosecutor.
He won election in 2010, defeating Paul Richmond.
Haas, who graduated from Willamette University in Portland, Ore., and has a law degree from California Western School of Law, is a private practice attorney with emphasis on personal injury law and criminal defense.
He has been a prosecutor in Mason and Jefferson counties and ran for Superior Court judge in 2012 but did not make it past the primary, coming in third behind Peggy Ann Bierbaum and Keith Harper, who won in the general election.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
