PORT ANGELES — Mike Chapman looked like he’d dotted the “i” in independent Tuesday.
The incumbent without a party was leading the GOP’s Terry Roth by 14,956 to 7,334 votes, or 67.10 to 32.90 percent of ballots counted by 8 p.m. Tuesday, for Clallam County commissioner.
Ballots were sent to 45,766 registered voters across Clallam County, and Tuesday’s tally included all ballots received by 4:30 p.m. Friday — 24,242 ballots.
County Auditor Patty Rosand said her office had about 5,515 ballots in hand but not counted — 34,843 ballots in all, or a 76.1 percent return rate — and she expects another 6.000 to 7,000 ballots to have been cast by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Rosand will update results by 4:30 p.m. Friday, and final results will be certified on Nov. 25.
Roth represented the Clallam County Republican Party that suspended Chapman in February for endorsing his colleague, Commissioner Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, in last year’s general election contest with GOP challenger Bob Forde.
Lost party polling, mailing
His suspension cost him party financial support plus its help with campaign signs, sign locations, canvassing, polling and mailing.
Despite his ouster, Chapman considered keeping the “R” behind his name that had won him elections in 2000 and 2004, saying the Republican Party had left him, that he hadn’t left the party.
He finally filed his candidacy, however, as an independent.
Because of the rift, the race had been expected to focus on partisanship and party ideology, but Roth steered clear of those subjects and focused on economic issues.
He said Chapman had done the same.
“It was a pleasure to debate him,” said the former Clallam County Sheriff’s sergeant, now a downtown Port Angeles businessman.
‘Good, clean campaign’
Chapman concurred.
“The citizens were well served by a good, clean campaign,” he said.
Roth’s main campaign message was that Clallam County must market itself as a lifestyle location for small and medium-size businesses.
Chapman ran on the current county commissioners’ record of saving $10 million over the past eight years, even as other governments spent their increased tax revenues from the real estate and building boom.
The resulting $11.5 million reserve will allow the county to weather the next year, perhaps two years, without layoffs or reductions in essential services.
Chapman seemed emotionally moved by his commanding lead.
“The results are humbling and a reflection of the job we’ve been doing here at the county.
“I’m just one part of it, and tonight the voters got a chance to speak on what they think.”
Roth, however, wasn’t giving up.
“It’s a little early to comment,” he told the Peninsula Daily News.
“We’ll wait until all the votes are counted.
“This isn’t a concession, that’s for sure.”
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Reporter Jim Casey can be reached at 360-417-3538 or at jim.casey@peninsuladailynews.com.
