With only 60 percent of ballots counted Tuesday night, Kitsap County voters gave the nod to Kitsap County Commissioner candidate Patty Lent, selecting the republican challenger over democratic incumbent Tim Botkin by a margin of 54.5 percent to 45.2 percent. The hotly contested race will put the future of the county in the hands of the republican party, as Lent joins Jan Angel (R) and Chris Endresen (D) on the board.
In North Kitsap, voters overwhelmingly supported the continuance of two Emergency Medical Services levies proposed by North Kitsap Fire & Rescue and Fire District #18 from Poulsbo. The measures, which failed to garner enough votes in September — when they were proposed as permanent levies — each passed with about 70 percent of the “yes” vote.
Even so, Kitsap County and Washington state in general said “no” any new taxes pretty much across the board. The most startling defeat was that of the state’s $7 billion package, Referendum 51.
R-51 went down by nearly a 2-1 margin, with 62.7 percent of the ballots coming in against the proposal and 37.3 percent for it. The loss leaves Washington without a solid transportation plan and pours salt on the wounds of an already ailing state infrastructure.
To further the pain to state’s transportation problems, voters also passed Initiatibe 776 by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin. The proposal, deemed the “Son of Initiative-695” — a similar measure that put the the pinch on the state by drastically reducing the amount of money raised through the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax — puts $30 license tabs into effect for light trucks and further cuts state transportation dollars.
County voters were not swayed local taxes, either, and overwhelmingly dumped a propert tax measure by Kitsap County to retain services and a Public Facilities District sales tax measure to add a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax to pay for new recreational amentities. Kitsap County’s proposition failed 73 percent to 27 percent and the PFD concept dropped off the monkey bars by 64 percent to 36 percent against.
In the 23rd District republican Bev Woods appears to have eeked out a victory in position 2 over democratic challenger Sherry Appleton. Tuesday counts, showed Woods leading that race 51.3 percent to 48.5 percent. Bainbridge Island democrat Phil Rockefeller had less trouble defending his 23rd District seat in position one against republican challenger Don Large and had posted a 59.8 percent to 40 percent lead as of Tuesday night.
Likewise, incumbent democratic incumbent Jay Inslee topped republican Joe Marine in the U.S. Congressional race for House of Representatives distict 1 with a Tuesday tally of 56.1 percent to 40.8 percent.
Kitsap County Coroner Greg Sandstrom (R) defeated challenger Ed Rollman (D) by a 62 percent to 38 percent margin.
Sheriff Steve Boyer (D) soundly beat libertarian challenger William Johnston 84 percent to 15 percent and unopposed candidates Assessor Jim Avery (R), Auditor Karen Flynn (D), Clerk Dave Peterson (D), Prosecuting Attorney Russ Hauge (D) and Treasurer Barbara Stephenson (D) all won their respective races.
Results above are unofficial. Another election count will take place on Friday, Nov. 8.
