Businessman Jim Slowik is leading the race for the next Oak Harbor mayor in early results of the primary election.

Councilman Paul Brewer is in second place, while Councilwoman Sue Karahalios is in third place. If the trend continues, Slowik and Brewer will advance to the general election while Karahalios will be eliminated.

According to the first count of mail-in ballots, Slowik has 1,249 votes, Brewer has 926 and Karahalios earned 816 votes.

“I am really gratified that the community voted for us and heard our message,” Slowik said Tuesday night.

In other races, Jim Palmer is leading the race for an Oak Harbor city council position, followed by former councilman Bob Morrison. Clairann Haney is at risk of being eliminated from the general election if the vote count holds.

Palmer has 1,426 votes, Morrison has 994 and Haney has 483.

David Sherman is leading in the race for a seat on the Oak Harbor School Board with 2,909 votes. Bill Burnett is in second place with 1,296 ballots in his favor and Frank Pulu has 1,194.

In Coupeville, Bob Clay has earned the most votes so far, with 197. Gary Piazzon is in second place with 151 and Sue Cunningham is tailing with 132 votes.

A total of 6,136 ballots were counted in the early count Wednesday night. The Island County Auditor’s Office sent out 17,500 total ballots. Election results will be updated again on Thursday at 4 p.m.