PORT ANGELES — Bruce Emery landed a decisive victory over Cherie Kidd for the role of director of Community Development for Clallam County.

After Wednesday’s second count of ballots, Emery had 66.07 percent, or 17,352 votes, with 26,265 of the votes counted.

Kidd tallied 33.62 percent of the vote, or 8,831 votes.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Emery said. “I thought the race would be much closer, you know. Cherie knows how to campaign and she has good name recognition.”

Kidd said: “I congratulate Bruce Emery, we both worked very hard and he will be a great director.”

Emery and Kidd were vying for a nonpartisan position that had been vacated by former DCD Mary Ellen Winborn who worked remotely after relocating to Mississippi and then left office.

Clallam County is the only county in the nation that elects its DCD director rather than have the Clallam County commissioners appoint a person for the position.

Emery said he believed his messaging as well as his background working as a DCD planner and with a private development company ultimately led to his victory.

“Our message was pretty good. The one thing I had going for me was several years of experience not only with the department but also in the private sector and I do think that resonated with the voters,” Emery said.

“It’s a skilled position, not just an elected head and we need someone with that background to manage the permit function and the advisory function for the county commission and land use policy and regulation,” Emery said.

“Those are all things that I have done,” he said.

Kidd, former mayor of Port Angeles, said she was thankful for the opportunity to run for the role.

“I am so humbled and grateful for the thousands of people who put their trust and support in me,” she aid.

”It was a great adventure and I worked really hard.”

________

Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.