Preliminary results from the Kitsap County Auditor’s office have former Bremerton Mayor Lynn Horton handily leading the trio of candidates vying for Cheryl Kincer’s seat on the Port of Bremerton Board of Commissioners.

As of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, with 5,283 ballots counted, Horton led each of her opponents by at least 10 points with 48.93 percent to Roger Zabinski’s 29.38 percent and Gene Hart’s 20.18 percent. There were 80 votes for write-in candidates.

“I’m happy,” Bremerton resident Horton said, explaining that she was “a little surprised by the margin, but I’ll take it.”

Horton said her prior experience as Bremerton mayor made her known amongst voters, but added, “I’ve also been door-belling a lot.”

Chico resident Roger Zabinski said Horton has the “name recognition, but I’m a little surprised (at the results), because she hasn’t been to a single port meeting.”

Zabinski said he believed he was still a good fit for the position, and he was looking forward to November.

When told the results Tuesday night, Bremerton resident Gene Hart said: “I guess that’s what name recognition will get you.”

In the primary race for the District 3 seat on South Kitsap School District’s Board of Commissioners, former board member Chris Lemke is also easily in the lead.

As of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with 6,023 ballots cast, Lemke had pulled in 45.03 percent of the vote, Naomi Polen had 31.73 percent, and Gail Porter, who no longer qualifies for the seat due to relocating, collected 19.06 percent of the vote.

There were 252 votes for write-in candidates.

The top two candidates in both races will face off again in the general election Nov. 3.