The first batch of unofficial results for the August primary election are in, with a measure to raise the property tax levy for Clark County Fire District 3 trailing by 350 votes as of Tuesday, Aug. 1.
Following the 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday, the first numbers for that ballot measure and city races in Battle Ground and Woodland were released. The next count of ballots will be made Wednesday afternoon.
Clark County Fire District 3’s lid lift ballot measure has about 46.9% approval, or 2,659 votes, in the first count of ballots. Those opposed to the measure cast 3,009 votes.
If passed, the lid lift would increase the current levy of $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.50 per $1,000.
In Woodland, the race for mayor has a newcomer taking a majority of the votes. Challenger Todd Dinehart had about 54.2% of the vote in the first count, with incumbent mayor Will Finn taking 31.3% of votes. Both will likely move on to the November general election, with Janna Lovejoy likely out in third place with roughly 13.8% of the vote.
In the three Battle Ground City Council races in this year’s primary, the sole elected incumbent leads his race. Councilor Shane Bowman has about 56.2% of the votes in the first count of the position 2 race, with challenger Josh VanGelder taking roughly 38.8% of votes. They will likely face off in November. Candidate C.R. Wiley came in third and took about 4.5% of the vote.
For Battle Ground City Council’s position 3 seat, challenger Victoria Ferrer has the most votes with about 59.4% of the vote in the first count. Incumbent Daniel Dingman, who was appointed to a vacancy in June, came in second with roughly 37.1% of the vote and will likely move onto the November election with Ferrer.
A third candidate, Craig Wigginton, has stated he was not actively campaigning. He still gained about 3.3% of the vote.
The position 7 race to replace current seatholder and mayor Philip Johnson has the closest race among its top-two candidates. As of the first count, Eric Joe Overholser had about 52.8% of the vote, while Josie Calderon had roughly 43.6% of votes. While those two will likely move on, candidate Max Booth, who also said he was not actively campaigning, took 3.3% of the vote.
Voter turnout in Clark County is about 14.9% as of the first count, according to the county elections office. Total ballot counts in the first batch of results was 13,525 countywide, with 4,500 estimated left to count.
