PORT TOWNSEND — The final Jefferson County results of Tuesday’s general election are in.
Kees Kolff, 70, a former Port Townsend mayor, will replace Charles “Chuck” Russell, 73, of Nordland on the Jefferson Healthcare hospital board of commissioners after Kolff bested the incumbent in his bid for a fourth six-year term.
Incumbent Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Steve Tucker, 65, was returned to his seat for a second four-year term, defeating challenger Diana Wendy Talley, 63.
Amy Smith, 33, and David Faber, 32, are new members of the Port Townsend City Council.
Final results were tabulated Thursday when the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office counted more than 2,000 ballots.
The office received 2,318 ballots Wednesday, but that tapered off to fewer than 100 votes Thursday, said Elections Supervisor Betty Johnson.
She doesn’t expect another count to take place until the election is certified Nov. 24.
As of Thursday, the office had counted 12,512 votes out of 23,011 for a final voter turnout of 54.37 percent.
Clallam County plans a second count of ballots today.
Said Russell on Thursday: “I’m proud to have served for the last 18 years.
“I hope the hospital continues doing some of the good things we’ve been doing.”
Kolff could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Kolff earned 5,957 votes, or 54.39 percent, over Russell’s 4,972 votes or 45.17 percent.
Another hospital board incumbent, Mari Dressler, 69, was returned to the Position 4 seat for a second term.
“I don’t think it will change much,” Dressler said of the board.
“We’ll still work very hard to do the best for the community.”
She was challenged by Paul Stafford, 48.
In the final count, Dressler earned 6,491 votes, or 63.76 percent, over Stafford’s 3,655 votes, or 35.3 percent.
Tucker said he was glad to have won another term on the Port of Port Townsend board “and that all my work has paid off.
“I think I’ll be able to do a better job now that I’ve got some mileage under my belt.”
Talley conceded Tuesday night. She said her campaign “really did change the conversation. It wasn’t just me; it was all the other people who took an interest, and a lot more people will be involved in the future.”
Tucker won 5,987 votes, or 51.97 percent, over Talley’s 4,998 votes, or 47.66 percent.
In the Port Townsend City Council Position 6 race, Smith won 2,496 votes, or 70.89 percent, over Paul Rice, 33, who gathered 1,009 votes, or 28.66 percent.
Jefferson County Democratic Chair Bruce Cowan said he wasn’t surprised Smith won.
“I admire both of them for running, but Amy has had more of a chance to work with people in the community,” Cowan said, adding that Rice “will be an asset to the city in the next few years whatever he decides to do.”
In the council’s Position 7 contest, Faber won 2,274 votes, or 71.17 percent, over Travis Keena, 39, who gathered 898 votes, or 28.11 percent.
In the Quilcene School Board Position 1 contest, Mark L. Apeland, 50, will be seated in the seat now held by Shoona Davis, 51.
Apeland took 372 votes, or 63.37 percent, over Davis, the incumbent, who won 213 votes, or 36.29 percent.
In the district’s Position 3 race, Viviann Kuehl earned 339 votes, 56.41 percent, over Bonnie Hitt’s 260 votes, or 43.26 percent, a margin of 79 votes.
In the Port Ludlow District 3 race, incumbent Ron Helmonds, 62, prevailed with 939 votes, or 56.03 percent, over Ron Gregory’s 644 votes, or 38.42 percent. Gregory is 79.
The Auditor’s Office now has one ballot that has not been processed and 147 challenge ballots, Johnson said.
A ballot is challenged when the voter preference cannot be determined.
All of the voters who provided ballots that have been challenged have been contacted by mail. Their votes will be counted only after they respond, Johnson said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
