Brady, Goodroetake early leads in local elections

Second time is apparently a charm for Blair Brady, Democrat candidate for county commissioner representing District 3, Skamokawa and the Westend.

Brady led appointed incumbent Tom Doumit, an independent, 891-718, after initial counting Tuesday’s General Election.

In the other contested local race, incumbent David Goodroe led write-in challenger Ruth Doumit 92-85.

County Auditor Diane Tischer said 61 ballots arrived Tuesday but weren’t counted. Election officials will count those and other ballots arriving in the mail at 10 a.m. today (Thursday).

Brady ran unsuccessfully for commissioner last fall against incumbent Mark Linquist. Brady held the lead in initial counting. Late ballots favored Linquist, and the election ended in a tie.

Linquist, who was battling lung cancer at the time, won a coin flip. He died shortly after being sworn into office, and Commissioners Dan Cothren and George Trott appointed Doumit to fill the position.

Goodroe was one of three members of the Cathlamet Town Council running unopposed for re-election.

Doumit entered the race late, just as the mail-in ballots were sent to voters. Council Member Wally Wright began looking for a write-in candidate to oppose Goodroe after the October 15 council meeting at which Goodroe and two other council members defeated Wright’s motion to restore emergency siren use while a committee looked at alternative ways to dispatch emergency responders.

Wright and John Hannah, who supported Wright’s motion, were unopposed and won re-election. Wright drew 161 votes, and Hannah had 141.

In the only other contested race in the area, incumbent Democrat Brian Hatfield won election to fill the remainder of a state senate term to which he was appointed late last year.

In Wahkiakum County, he defeated Republican Jesse Ashe, who hardly campaigned, 1,129-434. District wide, Hatfield led with 75 percent of the vote.

Several state ballot measures were on the ballot.

Initiative 960 to require legislative supermajorities or public votes on tax increase passed 952-620 in the county; statewide, it was passing with 52 percent of the vote.

Referendum 67, concerning fair conduct on claims for insurance, passed 895-665 in the county; statewide, it was passing with 57 percent of the vote.

Engrossed SJR 8206, amending the state constitution to establish a budget stabilization account, passed 977-523; statewide, it waspassing with 68 percent of the vote.

Senate Joint Resolution 8212 concerning inmate labor passed 838-667 in the county; statewide, it was passing with 60 percent of the vote.

Engrossed HJR 4204 amending the state constitution to allow simple majority school tax levies failed in the county 642-937; statewide, it trailed with 48 percent of the vote in favor and 51.8 percent opposed.

Substitute HJR 4215 amending the state constitution to allow different kinds of public investments failed 627-856 in the county; statewide, it was passing with 53 percent of the vote.

Other candidates were unopposed and won election. These included:

Port District 1 commissioner, Brett Deaton.

Naselle/Grays River Valley School District, Steve Sultemeier and Hollis Fletcher.

Wahkiakum School District, Tony Boyce and Tina Schubert.

Fire District 1 commissioner, Wayne Holloway.

Fire District 3 commissioner, David White.

Fire District 4 commissioner, Larry Hendrickson.

Of the county’s 2,588 registered voters, 1,666 ballots were counted Tuesday, a 64.37 percent turnout.