PORT TOWNSEND — The two Democratic incumbents for Jefferson County commissioner held commanding leads over their respective challengers Tuesday night after the first wave of election ballots were counted.
Commissioner David Sullivan, 56, a Cape George resident, led the District 2 race with 55.37 percent over challenger Sandy Hershelman, 50, of Port Hadlock who garnered 6,555 votes, or 44.41 percent.
Hershelman was running as an independent.
Phil Johnson, 62 and a lifelong Port Townsend resident, was handily defeating Republican challenger Dennis Schultz, a political newcomer who was at home celebrating his 72 birthday on election night.
Results showed Johnson leading the District 1 county commissioner race with 64.94 percent to Schultz’s or 34.96 percent.
Tri-Area sewer system
Sullivan, who during his first term has pushed hardest for a Tri-Area sewage treatment system to enhance economic development and environmental protection in the long term, said he hopes to carry on that effort until ground is broken in 2010.
“I really feel like the Tri-Area project has to be done. I’ve been a champion for that,” said Sullivan, who was at the Jefferson County Courthouse to see the results come in and took time to congratulate his board colleague of four years, Johnson.
Sullivan said with Barack Obama in the White House, he expected see more federal infrastructure development funds made available to local governments.
He said he thought it helps that Democrats had the edge of voter support in this election, although he had less time to campaign because of his work at the courthouse.
Sullivan and Johnson both sought second four-year terms in the posts that each pays $58,032 a year, plus a mileage allowance and medical and dental benefits.
In 2009, pay for both commissioner posts increases to $63,925.
Hershelman, who was joined by family and campaign supporters at the Elks Lodge south of Port Townsend, said she was banking on Republican support from those who supported unsuccessful primary election candidate Richard Hild.
She admitted Tuesday night, however, that that was not enough in the general election.
“It is a huge statement that a lot of people out there are respecting the idea that they want an independent,” Hershelman said, congratulating Sullivan.
“Running against an incumbent Democrat in a highly Democratic county in the year of the Democrats — I guess there’s nothing more to say.”
Hershelman, a 50-year-old Port Hadlock marketing and Web consultant and Jefferson County Homebuilders Association executive officer, is a former Democrat who ran as an independent to challenge Sullivan, a retired nurse from Cape George.
Sullivan’s District 2 covers the Tri-Area, Kala Point and Marrowstone Island.
Johnson’s District 1 covers Port Townsend and vicinity.
The results are only from ballots received by the county auditor before Tuesday, when 15,933 ballots were counted in Jefferson County elections — 82.28 percent of the 22,160 ballots mailed out after Oct. 15.
The next count is scheduled Friday.
County Auditor Donna Eldridge said she expects at least 2,000 more ballots to be tallied, possibly reaching the more than 90 percent voter turnout mark. She has predicted a 92 percent voter turnout.
About 2,000 ballots were in hand, but not counted Tuesday night, said Eldridge, including those collected from the ballot drop box behind the county courthouse at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Those ballots, plus ballots received in the coming days with a postmark of Tuesday or before are expected to be counted on Friday at her office, Eldridge said, adding that a time was still to be scheduled.
‘A lot of support’
“I felt like I had a lot of support, but I wasn’t anticipating that great a lead,” said Johnson, who was instrumental in securing grant funding to restore Jefferson County Courthouse during his first term and also renovated historic Rose Theatre in downtown Port Townsend.
Johnson said he hopes to land more grant dollars to continue restoration of the more than 100-year-old building, which has crumbling mortar to repair.
Johnson said the commissioners’ immediate challenge is balancing the 2009 county budget, which is facing issues with revenue shortfalls.
Schultz, a retired engineer who raises sheep and grows hardy kiwi near Port Townsend, was joined election night at his home by Thomas Thomas, a Sequim broadband company co-owner and Republican who is running against longtime incumbent state Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam.
“You’ve got to realize I am up against a very strong Democratic machine in Jefferson County,” Schultz said, adding he was disappointed and surprised at Johnson’s margin of victory.
“Phil and I ran a good clean campaign. Nice. Friendly. And I’m proud of that.
“And I am sure he is, too.”
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
