PORT ANGELES — Chris Melly conceded to Erik Rohrer after the District Court judge took a commanding lead over him Tuesday in the race for Clallam County Superior Court judge.
Rohrer had 12,210 votes to Melly’s 9,544 votes — a 56.13 percent to 43.87 percent margin — after the first batch of ballots were processed on Election Day.
Melly conceded defeat after scanning the “disappointing numbers” with his supporters at the Clallam County Courthouse.
“Obviously, I’m just too far behind to catch up,” said Melly, 61.
The Clallam County hearing examiner said he would have to pick up two out of three of the remaining ballots to be counted in the all-mail election, “and I don’t foresee that happening.”
“I think I’m in a position to concede,” Melly said.
“I wish Erik a wonderful judgeship,”
When reached by cell phone late Tuesday, Rohrer said he was “very pleased and honored” by the result.
“We’ve been working awfully hard,” said Rohrer, 54, the elected judge for Clallam County District Court 2 in Forks.
“I’d like to thank my wife, Cari, and the people who voted for me and supported me in the campaign. I am very much looking forward to being the county’s next Superior Court judge.”
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office counted 26,870 ballots out of 47,157 issued, with 5,481 ballots on hand but uncounted — a total return of 32,351 votes, or a turnout of 65.6 percent.
In addition to the 5,481 ballots on hand, Auditor Patty Rosand expects about 8,000 more ballots to come in for a final voter turnout of 86 percent.
The next count will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Rohrer and Melly were vying to replace retiring Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams.
They were the top two vote-getters in a four-person primary last August.
Superior Court judge is a four-year position that pays $148,832 per year.
The judgeship contest generated $39,137 in campaign contributions, the most money of any race in Clallam County.
Rohrer outraised Melly $27,761 to $11,376, according to state Public Disclosure Commission records.
Rohrer, who makes his home on the West End, donated or loaned more than $23,000 of his own money to the campaign.
Melly, of Port Angeles, loaned his campaign $3,500 and received $6,396 of in-kind contributions.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
