Balance shifts following Tuesday’s election

Island County residents elected some new faces, while keeping some familiar ones during Tuesday’s General Election. It appears that the partisan balance of the Board of Island County Board of Commissioners will shift with one of two Democratic commissioners losing in the Nov. 6 election, according to initial ballot results.

Island County residents elected some new faces, while keeping some familiar ones during Tuesday’s General Election.

It appears that the partisan balance of the Board of Island County Board of Commissioners will shift with one of two Democratic commissioners losing in the Nov. 6 election, according to initial ballot results.

Jill Johnson, a Republican, is ahead of Democratic Commissioner Angie Homola by 2 percent of the vote for the District 2 position, which represents the Oak Harbor area. She has 17,095 ballots cast in her favor, or 51 percent, while Homola has 16,400 votes, at 49 percent.

“It was a clear message and I am really excited to represent the voters of District 2 and all the citizens of Island County,” Johnson said Tuesday night. “There was no indecision in this vote at all.”

Incumbent Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, a Democrat, has a lead over Republican challenger Jeff Lauderdale for the District 1 position, which covers South and Central Whidbey.

Price Johnson has 17,420 votes, or 52 percent, while Lauderdale has 16,019 at 48 percent.

“I do think the race will narrow but it looks like my lead will hold,” Price Johnson said.

In the hotly contested race for the District 10 state senate seat, Democrat Mary Margaret Haugen, the longtime senator, lost to Republican challenger Barbara Bailey.

Bailey has 27,342 votes, or 52.78 percent, while Haugen has 24,457 votes, or 47.22 percent.

In the two races for District 10 state representative, the Republican candidates are winning.

Incumbent Rep. Norma Smith is far ahead of Democratic challenger Aaron Simpson. Smith has 30,835 votes, or 60.89 percent, while Simpson has 19,809 or 39.11 percent.

For the other seat, Republican candidate Dave Hayes has 26,142, or 52.13 percent, and Democrat Tom Riggs garnered 24,002 or 47.87 percent.

On South Whidbey, the South Whidbey Fire/EMS Levy Lift proposition is easily passing with nearly 59 percent of the vote.

In the major state initiatives, Island County voters mirrored statewide results in casting ballots in favor of legalizing marijuana, approving same-sex marriage and approving charter schools.

Island County voters also favored Republican candidate Rob McKenna over Democrat Jay Inslee for governor. McKenna earned 53 percent of Island County votes, while statewide he’s losing with just 48 percent.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democrat, and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell are both ahead.

President Barack Obama won in Island County, with nearly 51 percent of the vote as compared to Mitt Romney’s 47 percent.

 

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