PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles School Board incumbent Steven J. Baxter held a commanding lead Tuesday night in his bid for an additional four years.
Baxter, who won a three-way race for his seat in 2007, had 3,192 of 5,257 votes, or 60.72 percent, while challenger Arlene Wheeler, 48, earned 2,065, or 39.28 percent.
Baxter said his approach for the past few years — to focus on student achievement and graduation rates — has been successful.
“We will continue to do what we should do,” he said.
The board wants the best possible outcome for kids, Baxter said, and that means a focus on getting every single student to graduate, either from Port Angeles High School or Lincoln High School.
Director of information technology at Peninsula College, Baxter said it was important to continue to encourage students to plan for post-secondary education.
Wheeler, the planning and development director for the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, said she will continue supporting education wholeheartedly.
“That won’t change at all,” she said.
Baxter said she would like to invite Baxter to an Elwha tribal potlatch to get to know the Elwha people better.
“I don’t believe he has ever been to one,” she said.
The Clallam County elections office counted 17,802 ballots Tuesday, or 38 percent of the 45,731 registered voters who were mailed ballots, and has about 5,000 left to count from all ballots received as of Tuesday and what is estimated will come in today, Rosand said Tuesday night.
The next tally is scheduled by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The school board oversees a $39 million general fund budget, a staff of 242 teachers, 148 classified employees and 13 administrators.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
