PORT TOWNSEND — The outcome of many Jefferson County races could be decided today as the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office prepares to run an additional 2,064 ballots in the general election.
Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge said results would be available shortly after noon — when her office will compile all 14,049 ballots returned thus far.
The additional ballots were received by the auditor’s office late Tuesday night and in the mail Wednesday morning.
The additional ballots returned brings voter turnout in the county to 64.29 percent.
The total number of ballots mailed to registered voters in Jefferson County was 21,983.
In two races — Brinnon Fire District and Gardiner Cemetery commissioner — the leader is only three votes ahead of his opponent.
Incumbent Brinnon Fire Commissioner Ken McEdwards had 272 votes, or 50.28 percent while his opponent, Mike Eastman, had 269 votes, or 49.72 percent, after 541 votes were counted Tuesday for the race for commissioner position 2.
Eldridge said 59 additional ballots had come in from Brinnon voters.
In the race for Gardiner Cemetery commissioner, Richard Quinnell had 66 votes, or 50.38 percent, while Bob McCauley had 63 votes, or 48.09 percent, after the first tally Tuesday.
Eldridge said a total of 19 ballots have yet to be counted from voters in the Gardiner district.
In another race that is too close to call, incumbent Jefferson County Hospital District Commissioner Kathy Hill has 4,524 votes, or 49.33 percent, to challenger Mari Dressler’s 4,592 votes, or 50.08 percent.
The 68-vote gap could change, since the election is countywide.
Eldridge said it was unlikely, but not entirely impossible, for the Port of Port Townsend Commissioner races to change.
Leif Erickson appears to have unseated longtime incumbent Herb Beck while Dave Thompson kept his seat against challenger Bob Schuessler on the Port of Port Townsend commission, as of Tuesday’s count.
Erickson took 5,212 votes, or 52.58 percent, to Beck’s 4,656 votes, or 46.97 percent, in the initial count.
Meanwhile Thompson took 5,294 votes, or 57.68 percent, to Schuessler’s 3,824, or 41.66 percent.
Eldridge said it was likely that a few more ballots would trickle into her office during the coming weeks from overseas and military voters.
________
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
