Clallam County Commissioner candidate Jim McEntire increased his lead to nearly 1,000 votes over rival Linda Barnfather in the latest count of ballots this morning conducted by the county elections office.
McEntire, 61, a Republican, upped his lead to 52 percent to 48 percent, or 12,115 votes to Barnfather’s 11,147 votes, for the Sequim-area District 1 position.
McEntire, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner and retired Coast Guard captain, submitted his letter of resignation Thursday to the Port commission in anticipation of defeating Barnfather, an executive legislative assistant for state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim.
County Auditor Patty Rosand said 3,130 ballots were counted this morning, with 3,130 to be counted by 4:30 p.m.
Sissi Bruch, 51, also maintained her lead over incumbent Deputy Mayor Don Perry, 66, for Perry’s Port Angeles City Council seat, 51 percent to 49 percent.
Bruch, the senior planner for the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, had 2,639 votes to 2,526 cast for Perry, the owner of Heritage Tours of Port Angeles.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
