Next ballot count Friday, Aug. 10, Certification Aug. 21
OKANOGAN – Early and unofficial Primary Election results show Jim Detro, the incumbent Okanogan County Commissioner, Position 3, candidate way out ahead of his two challengers, Sally Bull and Robert Fuchs.
Detro, a Republican, was leading the race with 1,276 (65.84%) of the votes. Salley Bull, who describes herself as an Independent, had 462 (23.77%) and Robert Fuchs, also an Independent, had 202 (10.30%) in the first count of ballots, held on Primary Election day, Aug. 7. The top two vote getters will meet in the November General Election where voters will decide who will get the office.
According to elections officials with the Okanogan County Auditor’s office there were 2.838 ballots for the commissioner position in by election day and there remains 5,221 ballots still out. All counts are unofficial until the election is certified on Aug. 21. The next ballot count is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 10.
Sheriff
The sheriff’s race, which had an even half dozen candidates seeking to occupy the sheriff’s office being vacated by Frank Rogers, who is retiring, also has two clear front runners. In the lead of the candidates, who all consider themselves Republicans, is Tony Hawley with 1,234 (26.33%) of the votes counted, followed by Steve Brown with 1,045. Kevin Newport was next with 524 votes (11.18%), followed by Jeff Koplin (18.44%), Michael Blake (18.27%) and Court Creighton (2.03%).
Prosecutor
Current Okanogan County Prosecutor Brandon Platter (D), who was appointed after Karl Sloan stepped down from the position, is trailing challenger Arian Noma (R) by a considerable number of votes. Noma received 2,935 (59.02%) of the votes counted on Tuesday evening. Platter received 2,018 (40.58%).
Auditor
Cari Hall has a sizable lead over Randy Gates for the position of Okanogan County Auditor. Both Republicans, Hall got 2,371 (56.20) votes and Gates got 1,786 (42.33%).
Treasurer, Coroner & Assessor
Incumbent Okanogan County Treasurer Leah F. McCormack ran unopposed, as did incumbent Okanogan County Coroner David Rodriguez. Larry D. Gilman who is seeking his first term as Okanogan County Auditor also ran unopposed for the position long held by Scott Furman who is retiring.
Seventh District Legislators
Okanogan County voters seem to like the current crop of Seventh District legislators, all Republicans. They overwhelmingly went for Shelly Short over Karen Hardy for State Senator. They also chose Jacquelin Maycumber for a return to the House of Representatives in Position 1 and Joel Kretz, a long term Congressman, for Position 2. The incumbents are leading in the rest of the Seventh District as well. Since Short and Maycumber were up against only one opponent they know who they will be facing in the General Election, Democrat Karen Hardy will face Short and Democrat Randall Michaelis will face Maycumber.
U.S. Senate & House
Amongst Okanogan County voters incumbents were winning the day for federal office as well. Democrat Maria Cantwell was leading a race for U.S. Senate with over two dozen candidates on the ballot. The next top vote getter in Okanogan County was Republican Susan Hutchinson. Local voters mirrored what was going on statewide, preferring the incumbent, with Hutchinson coming in second. They were both so far out ahead they’ve locked up a spot on the November ballot.
For Washington’s Fourth District, U.S. Representative, Republican Dan Newhouse is leading over Democrat Christine Brown by a considerable lead in both the county and district wide.
