At long last, Election Day is near.
Tuesday, Nov. 8, is the general election and with its arrival much of the guessing and speculation about this year’s most contested races will finally come to an end as the Island County Auditor’s Office is expected to release its first count by about 8 p.m.
The preliminary results will be posted on the Whidbey News-Times website, at www.whidbeynewstimes.com Tuesday evening, and appear in Wednesday’s paper.
For contestants in some of the most hotly contested races, who have been busy on the campaign trail for months but now have little to do but wait, Tuesday can’t come soon enough.
“At this point, you feel like you’re in limbo status,” said City Councilman Scott Dudley, who is engaged in a tough and lengthy battle with incumbent Jim Slowik for Oak Harbor mayor.
While the minutes are beginning to feel like hours, Dudley said he’s optimistic that he will come out ahead. However, voters will make their choice known and he’s ready to live with the decision, even if it’s something of a surprise.
“Come 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday night, we’ll either be rejoicing or scratching our heads.”
Similarly, Slowik said months of active campaigning have pretty much wound down and there’s little left to do but wait and reflect on his efforts, and that of his campaign, to win a second term.
“I think you always re-assess and look back but you reach a point where you’ve done everything you can,” he said.
This has been a particularly long campaign and Slowik said he feels good about his reelection effort. Like his challenger, he said he’s ready to accept whatever voters decide but hopes for the honor of another four years in office.
“I’m pleased with what we did, I think we’ve got good support, and we’ll just have to see what voters decide,” Slowik said.
Also to be decided are three city council races. Paul Brewer, a former councilman, and political newcomer Tara Hizon are battling it out for Position 1 while incumbent Beth Munns is fighting to retain Position 2 against challenger Larry Eaton, also a former councilman. Finally, Rick Almberg is engaged in a rematch against Mel Vance for Position 3.
Duking it out for Oak Harbor Fire District’s Position 1 commissioner seat are incumbent T.J. Lamont and retired firefighter Larry Wall, while Paul Messner is alone in a bid for another term to Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue’s Position 1 commissioner seat.
In school board races, Christine Abbott and John Worthington are vying for Position 2 in Oak Harbor and Peter Hunt and Christine Cribb are in uncontested races for Position 1 and Position 3.
In Coupeville, school board incumbents Don Sherman, Position 1, and Carol Bishop, Position 4, are also uncontested in their bids for additional terms.
Mayor Nancy Conard, Councilwoman Molly Hughes for Position 3, Councilman Bob Clay for position 2, and newcomer Jackie Henderson for Position 1 are all running unopposed in Coupeville.
The same cannot be said for Mike Diamanti and Laura Blankenship, however. Both are hoping to fill the Port of Coupeville’s open District 3 commissioner seat.
Hundreds of swimmers will be eagerly awaiting the fate of the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation renewal levy, which is largely used to operate the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool. Without a 60 percent favorable vote,the pool will close in January.
According to Island County Deputy Auditor Michele Reagan, as of Thursday the elections office had received a total of 17,110 ballots. That represents about 36 percent of the county’s 47,229 registered voters.
“Typically in an off numbered election year, Island County has an average of a 60 percent voter turnout,” Reagan said.
Although she didn’t have averages for individual districts, the elections office has received 2,981 ballots – about 34 percent – from 8,796 registered voters in Oak Harbor. That compares to 433 ballots – about 39 percent – received from the 1,116 voters registered in Coupeville.
Where to drop off ballots
Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day but voters may drop them off in person up until 8 p.m. at the following locations:
The Island County Elections Office at 400 N. Main Street in Coupeville; the Oak Harbor School District Administration Building at 350 S. Oak Harbor Street in Oak Harbor; and the Trinity Lutheran Church at 18341 SR 525 in Freeland.
