PORT ANGELES — Incumbent Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire and Mark Ozias appear headed for a November showdown after initial primary election returns tonight.
The top two vote-getters in the District 1 primary will advance to the countywide general election Nov. 3.
McEntire, a Sequim Republican, won 3,229 votes, or 49.35 percent, while Mark Ozias, a Sequim Democrat, took 2,472 votes, or 37.8 percent, after the county Auditor’s Office processed the first batch of primary ballots.
Bryan Frazier, also a Sequim Democrat, was in third place with 842 votes, or 12.9 percent of the total.
McEntire, 65, was elected to the board of county commissioners in 2012. He is a retired Coast Guard captain and a former Port of Port Angeles commissioner.
“I am hugely gratified and pleased and honored by the strong plurality that I have at the first count,” McEntire said.
“I fully expect to be over 50 percent when the final count is certified.”
“I can only say thank you to the voters of the first commissioner district,” McEntire added.
“I will continue to justify their trust in me as a common sense commissioner who puts people first.”
Ozias, 45, is executive director of the Sequim Food Bank and a former business owner.
“I’m really pleased to be making it on to the general election,” he said.
“I feel like it was a strong showing. I’m excited about the work that we’ve got to do between now and November.”
Commissioner District 1 covers the eastern third of the county from roughly McDonald Creek to the Jefferson County line.
Frazier, 56, is a merchandiser-sales assistant at Costco Wholesale.
Ozias and Frazier had not run for public office prior to this year.
Frazier said he intends to lend his support to Ozias in the general election.
“I never really expected to win without the support of either party,” Frazier said.
“My main objective was to get the word out there and not leave McEntire unchallenged.”
Frazier said he will continue to attend meetings and challenge the status quo in county government.
On Tuesday night, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 11,457 of the 43,522 ballots mailed to registered voters countywide for a voter turnout of 26.32 percent.
Auditor Shoona Riggs said the office had about 2,000 on hand that were not counted.
She expects between 1,000 and 2,000 more ballots to arrive this week.
The next vote count will be by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The three Clallam County commissioners approve a $34 million general fund budget, set a tax levy, approve county ordinances, hire county administrators and serve on regional and statewide boards.
If McEntire is reelected, he would earn $72,800 next year.
If Ozias wins, he would earn a $69,300 salary.
Commissioners also have a $60 monthly car allowance and a $40 monthly cell phone stipend.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
