Creating a regional fire authority in South Beach, the race for Aberdeen City Council (Ward 1 Position 2) and the mayoral race in McCleary were among the choices faced by Grays Harbor County voters in Tuesday’s primary election.
In McCleary, the race for mayor is an interesting one. It pits former mayor Gary Dent, who resigned the position abruptly in 2015, against the man appointed to take the seat, current mayor Brent Schiller. It also featured an Aberdeen Police officer, Jared Berken, who may not actually be eligible for the office because he hasn’t been a resident of McCleary for at least a year as appears to be required for that position under state law.
The first tally of votes recorded Tuesday evening had Schiller leading comfortably with 66.83 percent of the votes (133), followed by Berken and Dent in a dead heat with 16.58 percent (33) each.
Proposition 1 would create the South Beach Regional Fire Authority, combining Grays Harbor County fire districts 3, 11 and 14 with Pacific County Fire District 5 and the City of Westport Fire Department into one.
South Beach EMS Director Art Cole, Westport Fire Chief Dennis Benn and South Beach EMS Captain Daryl Brown spearheaded the effort to create the authority, stating it would stabilize, streamline, coordinate and preserve current levels of service throughout South Beach. It also, they said, would make it easier to coordinate training throughout the authority and assure each volunteer is given the same type and level of training.
Early results indicate they were able to convince the voters they needed. According to the county auditor, the measure passed by a wide margin in most impacted Grays Harbor Districts: Westport (77.39 percent), District 3 (82.96 percent, 112-23), District 11 (84.96 percent, 192-34); only District 14 cut it somewhat close at 67.98 percent with 121 yes votes to 57 no, with 100 percent of the votes counted. In Pacific County, 84.21 percent (192-36) voters were favoring the measure when first tallies were reported. Proposition 1 required a 60 percent majority vote to be approved.
There were three candidates on the ballot for Aberdeen City Council Ward 1 Position 2: incumbent Tawni Andrews, political newcomer Robert J. Rodgers and Dick Murchy. When the first results were posted shortly after 8:20 p.m., Andrews had 47.62 percent (90 votes), Murchy 33.86 percent (64) and Rodgers 18.52 percent (35).
When The Daily World asked to interview Murchy he politely declined, saying he wasn’t doing any press or promotion during the campaign. When the other two were asked their opinion about whether the City of Aberdeen should have a city administrator like Hoquiam does, the two differed. Andrews said she believed it would help offer stability within the city government; Rodgers said a city administrator is not necessary as those duties should be performed by the mayor.
Grays Harbor County
Public Hospital
Hospital District 1 Board position 1
Otis Leathers, 96, 9.9 percent
Georgette Beerbower Hiles, 522, 53.9 percent
Carolyn Wescott, 350, 36.2 percent
City/Town
Aberdeen
Council Ward 1, position 2
Dick Murchy, 64, 33.9 percent
Robert J Rodgers, 35, 18.5 percent
Tawni Andrews, 90, 47.6 percent
City of Elma Proposition 1 — Levy to partially fund police services for 2018
Yes, 292, 82.7 percent
No, 61, 17.3 percent
City of McCleary Mayor
Jared Berken, 33, 16.6 percent
Donald Gary Dent, 33, 16.6 percent
Brent Schiller, 133, 66.8 percent
City of McCleary, Council position 3
Jaron Heller, 85, 46.2 percent
Eric J. Hart, 61, 33.1 percent
Odd DeBakker, 38, 20.7 percent
City of Ocean Shores
Council position 1
Susan Conniry, 552, 45.8 percent
John Lynn, 461, 38.2 percent
Michael Darling, 193, 16 percent
Council position 3
Shannon Rubin, 385, 32.3 percent
Jackie Farra, 157, 13.2 percent
John Schroeder, 242, 20.3 percent
Lisa Griebel, 407, 34.2 percent
Council position 5
Steve Ensley, 606, 52.8 percent
Will Oaks, 155, 13.5 percent
Randy D. Scott, 389, 33.7 percent
South Beach
Creation of the South Beach Regional Fire Authority
Yes, 908, 80.9 percent
No, 215, 19.1 percent
School Districts
Aberdeen School 5 Position 1
Devin Backholm, 708, 39.1 percent
Anna Stone, 306, 16.9 percent
Jennifer Durney, 798, 44 percent
Cosmopolis Director District 1
Mark Collett, 58, 20.2 percent
Tina Miles, 118, 41.3 percent
Barbie Smith, 110, 38.5 percent
Cosmopolis Director District 4 (at-large)
Dave Palmer, 175, 60.1 percent
Mike Charlton, 34, 11.7 percent
Cindy Grenier, 82, 28.2 percent
Fire Districts
Fire District 5, Director Position 1
Liisa Mayberry, 90, 21.4 percent
Dave Hauge, 148, 35.1 percent
Eric L Patton, 183, 43.5 percent
Pacific County
City Of Raymond
Mayor
Nelia E. Woods, 71, 18.5 percent
Douglas (Tony) Nordin, 116, 30.1 percent
Steve Jones, 198, 51.4 percent
