The race for Island County Clerk will put Washington’s new “top two” primary system to the test. This is only the second year of the controversial primary, in which the two top vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

It appears clear that appointed incumbent Patricia Terry and Deputy Clerk Debra Van Pelt are the most qualified and should advance to the general election. Terry has been in office since last year and claims to have made a number of improvements. Van Pelt has five years’ experience in the office, support from most of her co-workers, and she could take over the reins quickly and smoothly if elected. The catch is that both are Democrats.

The only other candidate in the race is Carol Anne Fortune who has scant experience in the public realm. Her online voters’ guide statement cites only jobs as administrative assistant and janitor when she was working her way through college some years ago. She also professes to “love our country and our freedoms,” but that is hardly enough to keep the clerk’s office functioning to the satisfaction of judges, attorneys and others who depend on it.

Fortune’s one advantage is the “prefers Republican party” after her name on the ballot. As the only Republican in the race she is sure to land plenty of votes from those who always look for the “R” before marking their ballot, and that’s a big advantage. Many North Whidbey residents, particularly, are faithful to the Republican party and might not look closely at credentials, especially when the other two choices are both Democrats.

If voters are looking for the most qualified candidates, the top two clerk candidates in November will clearly be Terry and Van Pelt. But Fortune could well be one of the finalists if enough voters care more about party than who’s the best qualified.