It looks like November will bring a rematch between Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican Joe Kent in the hotly contested race to represent the 3rd Congressional District, according to initial results from Tuesday’s primary election.
Incumbent Perez of Skamania had 45.87 percent, Kent of Yacolt had 38.32 percent. Dark-horse Republican candidate Leslie Lewallen of Camas trailed with 12.43 percent. Independent John Saulie-Rohman, also a Camas resident, received 2.29 percent.
Election results were released shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. According to the elections office, there are 60,000 ballots left to count. The next count will be released at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
In races with only two candidates, both advance to the general election. Here’s how the November races are shaping up for positions with three or more candidates on the primary ballot.
County races
Two incumbents decided not to run for reelection for the nonpartisan Clark County Council positions on the ballot this year. In the race to replace Karen Bowerman in District 3, early returns set up a November contest between Chuck Keplar, with 35.91 percent of the votes, and Wil Fuentes with 35.57 percent. John Jay garnered 28.52 percent.
In the race to replace outgoing Clark County Councilor Gary Medvigy in District 4, farmer Joe Zimmerman had 26.06 percent, followed by Matt Little with 23.76 percent, Peter Cutile with 17.93 percent, Dorothy Gasque with 17.43 percent and Shannon L. Roberts with 14.82 percent.
State Legislature
In the 17th Legislative District, Position 2, Democrat Terri Niles led with 48.38 percent followed by David Stuebe (26.94 percent) and Hannah Joy (24.56 percent).
In the 18th Legislative District race for state senator, Democrat Adrian Cortes, with 46.86 percent, and Republican Brad Benton, with 30.74 percent, appear to be headed to November election. Current Rep. Greg Cheney, a Republican, trailed with 22.40 percent.
In the 18th Legislative District, Position 2, Democrat John Zingale led with 48.35 percent, followed by Republicans John Ley (38.28 percent) and Philip L. Johnson (13.37 percent).
In the 49th Legislative District, Democratic incumbent Monica Stonier led with 62.92 percent, followed by Republicans Russell Barber (19.93 percent) and Justin Forsman (17.15 percent).
Fire and emergency levies
Several fire districts sought to lift their annual levies back to $1.50 per $1,000. Those measures are passing in Fire District 3, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, Clark County Fire District 6, East County Fire and Rescue.
Clark County Fire District 13, which serves Yacolt and rural areas in northeast Clark County, asked to lift its levy lid to $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That measure passed.
Clark County Emergency Services District, which operates North Country Emergency Medical Services, sought a one-year, $3.6 million levy. The estimated cost is $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That measure passed, along with the accompanying measure in the town of Yacolt.
The city of Washougal appears to have passed a $15.7 million general obligation bond to replace Fire Station 43. The bond would amount to an estimated rate of 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Voter turnout based on ballots tallied so far is 22.75 percent, with an estimated 60,000 ballots yet to be counted in Clark County, according to Clark County Elections. The next results are expected to be released at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
