Well, alright then...PRELIMINARY election results are in! But please note: Somewhere around four thousand ballots have yet to be counted, people. So let's keep things...measured, shall we?
But, if percentages do not change, then the lights in the Clallam County courthouse will soon be dimming for Dim King Jim. Right now, he's down by less than a thousand votes - with the aforementioned four thousand ballots yet to count. So this is not a done deal by any measure, at least not until more ballots are counted. Still, it's got to be a blow to Dim King Jim's ego to know that so many of his subjects are ungrateful for all he's done for him, er, them...
Speaking of which, golly jeepers, Cherie Kidd finds herself in the position of barely fending off her (mostly non-competing) competitor, Dan Bateham. Is Cherie smart enough to see this as a fairly widespread NO CONFIDENCE vote in her? Nope! She'll just know she won, and leave it at that. Deep thoughts are a stranger to Cherie's bleached noggin...
Meanwhile, our own Marolee Smith has lost to Michael Meridith. Since no one seems to know much about the Mysterious Michael Meridith, even at this late date, perhaps now we can find out..?
And, over in the unopposed corner, Sissi Bruch has been reelected by a non-landslide. I say that because, if you look at the totals in the other two City Council races, you've got vote numbers in the neighborhood of twenty-four or twenty-five hundred. But Sissi managed to drum up fewer than eighteen hundred votes. That's a little bit of an undervote NO CONFIDENCE vote right there, as well...
Finally, remember that statistically speaking, it's likely that a majority of the (nearly four thousand) ballots left to be counted come from outside Port Angeles, which means that the City Council results and percentages are probably a lot less fluid at this point than the results and percentages for, say, County Commissioner.
So, no matter what, well done, Mr. Ozias. But I'm not ready to declare you the winner yet. Stay tuned...
Wahooo! Ozias in the lead!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's start working now on supporting a progressive candidate to run for Chapman's seat next time.
I'm still surprised that Sissi squeaked through unopposed.
ReplyDeleteNow, it could be that the photographer just caught her at an odd angle or something, but...It sure looks to me like Cherie has had (another) facelift. Not that this is all just part of a vanity-fueled ego trip for her. Oh no. She's doing all she does FOR YOU.
ReplyDeleteNote the PDN photograph has her in a nearly empty room, with Bill Peach.
DeleteJust about what that picture represents and reveals.
This morning's copy of the PDN was extremely late in being delivered to my house. I guess they had to scrap their "McEntire WINS!" article and replace it with that rather pathetic "just the facts" article late last night.
DeleteLaurel "Botox" Black, erstwhile ad designer for the "stars", was flitting all over the court house last night attempting to get into a press photo with fellow right-wingers. She succeeded in getting her mug in a shot with fellow right winger, Connie Beauvais who will likely lead the port into its failed composites catastrophe. Regardless of the final count the progressive movement made great strides even if they come up short. Now, if we can get a progressive-minded candidate to replace the train-wreck commissioner Chapman we may bring some sanity to local governance. Thanks to all who put their name on the ballots and fought for change.
ReplyDeleteThe way the mail has been working here, anyone in PA who mailed their ballot after last Friday could likely expect that it won't be delivered to the courthouse until today possibly so there could still be a lot of outstanding PA votes. I am just so exited about Ozias' current lead that I for the first time have hope!
ReplyDeleteCheire's ridiculous quotes about her success in today's PDN, relating it all to the voters wanting someone they trust in office was nauseating, especailly if you read them with her voice in your head. Thanks CK for putting perspective on what REALLY happened with her campaign.
Glad to see Lonnie Linn out. He was one of the outspoken school board members supporting the vocal minority who were against following the state mandated rules for fair treatment of transgender kids. Unfortunately Shotthafer finally got on the board after running numerous times and she seems like an old conservative authoritarian nutjob pushing for school uniforms and confiscating cellphones.
ReplyDeleteAlso very disappointed to see all of the charter amendments except for the two obvious administrative changes are going the wrong way.
Elect commisioners by district, so we don't get a chance to vote out someone like Dim King Jim again? Check.
Review the charter every 5 years instead of 8 so they can force more bad changes in? Check. All the other charter counties review every 10 years. There we going be unique again in the wrong way.
Continue electing the DCD so we have to fight off nuts like Sheila Roark-Miller? Check. We're still the only county in the country that elects a DCD. Hurray, another great day in Port Angeles!
Don't allow 120 days for petition signature gathering like all the other charter counties? Check, unique again!
Allow referenda and initiatives to bypass the commissioners so that we always have to spend time and money voting on them instead of letting commissioners implement any good ideas right away? Check!
While it's great that we're getting rid of Dim King Jim, all the charter votes look like tea party/libertarian nonsense continues to increase in Clallam County, home of the Goatse county flag.
I'm also disappointed with Shotthafer. Her comments seem so out of touch with the times.
DeleteBut I disagree with the DCD. At least by running elections every four years we can kick out nutjobs. Otherwise we'd get the same problem we have all over the city staff positions. People nominated through nepotism, barely competent, possibly corrupt, far too overpaid, and completely entrenched into their positions unless they do something really awful like embezzling a ton of money. Actually, did Betts even get fired right away or did we have to keep her around for awhile?
Imagine getting a Jim McEntire in the DCD position, or a Rick Sill, or... Well, the list could be endless in this town. At least this way we have a chance of kicking these people out.
It's going to be interesting to see Peach's reaction if McEntire loses. I can see Chapman and Ozias butting heads, but also finding ways to compromise. Peach has so far been nothing more than a yes-man for McEntire and whatever projects (or "ways to waste taxpayer money") the local Republican party endorses this month. Chapman has some major issues, but he actually occasionally endorses some (old school) conservative principles which, of course, got him kicked out of the local Republican party. So how will Peach behave? Will he become an obstructionist, will he need the local Republicans to tell him what to do, or will he maybe grow a spine and actually be capable of independent thought?
DeleteHaving initiatives and referendum go directly to the people will not keep the county commissioners from adopting good ideas before it has to go to the people. Commissioners can make things happen faster now if they so choose, they just cannot keep things from happening if the initiatives and referendum organizers "go over their heads" and directly to the people.
DeleteThe peasants have revolted against Dim King Jim!
DeleteYes it's so great to see Lonnie Linn outed by a pothead who let both of his own children drop out of high school.
DeleteWhat a great choice Rick Marti was. He has already resigned his position on the school board after finding out, to his dismay, that the position would actually require some work and effort on his part.
DeleteI think the clear take-away from the election is that people are tired of the same-old, same-old.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Mike. I've gotten to know him over the last few months -- since we keep speaking at the same events (guess that's what happens when you run against each other). For the most part we agreed on a great many things.
ReplyDeleteHe had good perspective on things. He's a hard worker. Has a fantastic sense of humor.
I like him.
I'm glad he is our new city council member. The next best thing to winning is having him win.
It was a very pleasurable experience, and I have a great deal of confidence in him.
I plan on running next time when several incumbent's chairs are up for grabs. It would be nice to see a clean slate run.
I might be an optimist, but I see big changes (potentially) in store.
You are a gracious candidate and a credit to politics, Marolee.
Delete"marolee in 16" I'm in.
Delete