Island County races split: 378 votes separate auditor candidates
Democrats lead five of seven contested county races, but incumbents hold sheriff and prosecutor posts as national blue wave hits the region.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
The national Democratic surge hit a wall in Island County on Tuesday, where voters split their ballots between party loyalty and local incumbency. While Democrats took five of the seven contested county offices, independent and nonpartisan incumbents held onto the sheriff and prosecutor races. The tightest contest is the auditor’s race, where Democrat Barbara Fuller leads independent incumbent Sheilah Crider by just 378 votes in the initial count.
The first key point involves the county commissioner race in District 3. Democrat Grant Shaw leads Republican Matthew Van Pelt by a wide margin. Shaw holds 15,620 votes, or 61.3% of the total, while Van Pelt has 9,873 votes, or 38.7%. This result mirrors the broader Democratic trend seen across the state.
The second key point is the assessor’s race, where the challenger is also winning. Democrat Doug Stults leads incumbent Kelly Mauck, who lists no party preference, with 14,283 votes. Mauck has 10,812 votes. Stults holds 56.9% of the vote, while Mauck holds 43.1%. This race adds to the list of Democratic gains in the county’s elected offices.
The third key point is the county clerk’s race, where Democrat Dierdre Butler is leading Republican Maria Hazelo. Butler has 15,563 votes, or 61.1% of the total. Hazelo has 9,916 votes, or 38.9%. This race completes the set of Democratic victories in the county’s administrative and oversight roles.
Two incumbents broke the Democratic trend in their respective races. Sheriff Rick Felici, an independent, leads Democratic challenger Tavier Wasser with 13,216 votes to 12,185. Felici holds 52% of the vote. Prosecutor Greg Banks, who lists no party preference, leads Democrat Andrew F. Scott with 14,501 votes to 10,331. Banks holds 58.4% of the vote.
Voters also decided on three local measures. The Port of South Whidbey’s Proposition 1, a property tax levy for facility renovations, is passing with 4,162 votes in favor and 2,976 against. The measure would increase the port’s tax levy by 6 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Langley’s Proposition 1, for governmental services, has 382 votes in favor and 221 against. In a nonbinding advisory vote, 13,356 voters supported a ban on consumer fireworks in unincorporated Island County, while 7,433 opposed it.
Statewide, Democrats are winning control of the U.S. Senate and making gains in the House. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, is leading in the 2nd Congressional District with 159,891 votes. In the 10th Legislative District, Rep. Clyde Shavers and Rep. Dave Paul hold substantial leads over their Republican opponents. The results are preliminary as additional ballots are counted.
Coroner Shantel Porter, Treasurer Tony Lam, and District Court Judge Ronald Costeck are unopposed. The final results will determine the county’s leadership structure for the next term. The advisory fireworks vote gives commissioners data on public sentiment but does not create a law.
