The stage has been set for the Port Orchard council at-large and West Sound Utility District commissioner’s race. Each race had three candidates and the top two finishers face each other in the Nov. 5 general election.
The Kitsap County Auditor’s Office Election Division reported more than 22,000 ballots were cast in the Aug. 6 primary.
According to unofficial results posted on the county website, incumbent Councilman Jerry Childs easily outdistanced his closest opponent — by receiving more than 58 percent of the votes. Childs got 969 votes compared to newcomer Eric Gonnason, who finished second with 434 or 26 percent of the vote.
Jeff Braden, who announced he would not actively campaign because of Public Disclosure Commission guidelines, received 212 votes or 12.9 percent from eight of 12 precincts that reported Wednesday morning.
In the West Sound UD commissioner’s race, two current commissioners running for the same position will face off in November for the position. James J. Hart was the top vote-getter (1,254) with more than 61 percent of the vote, while Jeannie Screws (1,038) received more than 36 percent.
Kevin P. Long finished with 18 percent or 540 votes.
Hart and Screws are vying for a single commissioner’s seat after two districts merged to form West Sound UD.
Republician State Rep. Jan Angel, of Port Orchard, made a good showing in the party primary race against 26th Legislative District Senator Nathan Schlicher, a Democrat from Gig Harbor.
Angel, the top vote-getter, received close to 60 percent of the voters in Kitsap and 52 percent in Piece. In Kitsap, she finished with 7,240 votes to Schlicher’s 5,441 or 42 percent.
Overall, Angel had 13,134 votes (55 percent) to Schlicher’s 10,863 (45 percent).
“This is a good indicator to tell us where we are at,” Angel said during the National Night Out event in Port Orchard on Tuesday.
In a Wednesday press release, Schlicher stated he’s gained positive momentum with the results.
“We are excited to see the gap closing,” Schlicher stated. “With three months to go, we have the momentum and are excited to see the final results in the general!”
The Secretary of State’s office reported that 24 percent of registered voters in the county cast ballots and 1,500 ballots remained to be counted Tuesday night.
The Election Division will post unofficial results and will update them regularly until final results are certified Aug. 20.