PORT ANGELES – A four-candidate race turned into a one-candidate triumph for Brooke Taylor in Tuesday’s count of votes for a new, third Clallam County Superior Court judge.
Although ballots that were deposited or mailed on Tuesday still must be counted, Taylor captured nearly 53 percent of the votes – more than 4,000 more than his closest challenger.
“I’m delighted, obviously,” Taylor said moments after learning the results, “but pleasantly surprised.
“Many people told me it was statistically impossible with four candidates, so I’m thrilled.”
Tuesday’s count didn’t guarantee the victory to Taylor – but they made it an overwhelming probability.
If Taylor’s lead holds, he will advance unopposed to the election that will end Nov. 6.
A candidate who takes at least 50 percent plus one vote or more in the primary will run unopposed in November.
Preliminary returns showed these results:
The numbers reflect a total of 14,875 ballots returned to the Clallam County Auditor, a rate just shy of 34 percent of the 43,946 ballots mailed.
They include ballots that chose no candidate, called “undervotes,” and those that marked more than one choice, or “overvotes.”
The fate of those ballots will be decided by the county canvassing board before it certifies the election Sept. 5.
