Asmussen retains PUD commissioner seat
Nearly-complete Okanogan County results from the Nov. 8 general election give apparent victories to Twisp Police Chief Paul Budrow for sheriff, Oroville Mayor Jon Neal for county commissioner and incumbent Dave Rodriguez for coroner, according to tallies released by the county auditor’s office on Thursday (Nov. 17).
The auditor’s office said about 650 ballots remain to be counted. The next count was to be released on Tuesday (Nov. 22) after the News went to press.
Budrow, Twisp’s police chief, started out trailing one-term incumbent Sheriff Tony Hawley in early returns, but surged ahead in the third counting and built on that lead. Hawley would need to get virtually all of the remaining ballots to close the gap with Budrow, who had drawn 7,596 votes (52.35%) to Hawley’s 6,915 (47.65%).
Meanwhile, in the race for the District 3 County Commissioner seat, Neal maintained his earlier lead over Lloyd Caton Jr. of Tonasket. Rodriguez, of Twisp, rode a primary election write-in campaign to a position on the November ballot. He continued to outdistance Rojean (Jeannie) Hughes of Tonasket. Incumbent Okanogan County PUD District 3 Commissioner Jerry Asmussen still held a comfortable lead over challenger Joseph Enzensperger of Tonasket.
In the only contested race in state Legislative District 7, incumbent State Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber enjoyed a substantial lead over Lonny Ray Williams of Republic.
In the 4th Congressional District, which includes the Methow Valley, incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse was headed to a convincing win over Democratic challenger Doug White.
Statewide, incumbent Sen. Patty Murray easily outpolled Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley.
The Methow Valley Emergency Medical Services District levy renewal was winning overwhelming approval, with 2,391 “yes” votes (81.02%) to 560 “no” votes (18.98%).
In other results as of Thursday’s second round of counting:
• Neal led with 6,752 votes (52.23%) to Caton’s 6,76 (47.77%) in the contest to replace Commissioner Jim Detro.
• Rodriguez tallied 8,807 votes (65.18%) to Hughes’ 4,705 votes (34.82%) in the coroner’s race.
• Asmussen led with 8,283 votes (60.58%) to Enzensperger’s 5,390 votes (39.42%) for the PUD position.
• Districtwide, Maycumber drew 30,627 votes (74.52%) to Williams’ 10,471 (25.48%) in the race for state representative, Position 1. In Okanogan County, Maycumber had 9,938 votes (77.27%); Williams polled 2,924 votes (22.73%).
• Districtwide in the Congressional contest, Newhouse tallied 134,343 votes (66.5%) to White’s 63,311 votes (31.3%). In Okanogan County, the margin was narrower: Newhouse 9,391 (61.04%), White 5,994 (38.96%).
• Filing for re-election, and drawing no challengers, were Okanogan County incumbents Assessor Larry Gilman, Auditor Cari Hall and Prosecuting Attorney Albert Lin. Susan Speiker was the only candidate for county clerk and Pam Johnson was the only candidate for county treasurer.
• Incumbent Republicans Sen. Shelly Short and Rep. Joel Kretz ran unopposed for their 7th District positions.
• Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Robert Grim and District Court judges Chancey Crowell and Charles Short were re-elected without opposition.
• Statewide, Murray led Smiley with 57% of the tallied votes to Smiley’s 43%. In Okanogan County, Smiley polled 9,627 votes (59.984%) to Murray’s 6,4237 votes (40.02%).
• Statewide, incumbent Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, led nonpartisan challenger Julie Anderson, 49.9% to 46%. In Okanogan County, Anderson drew 8,592 votes (60.71%) to Hobbs’ 5,561 votes (39.29%).
