PORT ANGELES — State legislative candidate Steve Tharinger agreed Monday that a campaign advertisement incorrectly said that as a Clallam County commissioner, he has helped keep the county from “facing a budget deficit.”

In fact, Clallam County faces a budget deficit of $2.6 million in the 2011 general fund, and County Administrator Jim Jones has asked department heads to cut spending by 3 percent to save $1 million next year.

The remaining $1.6 million will come from the county’s $9.5 million reserve account.

Tharinger, 61, a Democrat from Dungeness, is running for the 24th Legislative District’s Position 2 against Republican Jim McEntire, 60, a retired Coast Guard captain and current Port of Port Angeles commissioner.

Ballots will be mailed to voters in the all-mail election Wednesday and are due Nov. 2.

The 24th District includes all of Clallam and Jefferson counties as well as a third of Grays Harbor County.

‘Debt-free’

Tharinger said the advertisement should have said he has helped keep the county “debt- free.”

“We are splitting hairs here,” said Tharinger, who is in his third term as a county commissioner.

Under state law, counties cannot operate under a deficit.

The ad, which has appeared as a banner advertisement on the Peninsula Daily News’ website, www.peninsuladailynews.com, reads, “Under Steve Tharinger’s management, Clallam County is one of only two counties in Washington state not facing a budget deficit.”

On a second page: “It’s time for that kind of fiscal leadership in Olympia.”

Tharinger said late Monday he had not seen it but will talk to his campaign manager, Sam Gibboney of Port Townsend, about changing it.

“It’s erroneous in the sense that it talks about the two counties, and only two counties are debt-free. All of us have to have a balanced budget,” he said.

McEntire response

McEntire said he was aware of the erroneous claim.

“Let’s let the facts speak for themselves, but let’s be correct about the facts,” McEntire said.

“It is very true the county does not have any debt, but it is also true the county had to dip into reserves the last couple of years, and it’s been reported that they will have to do so again this year.”

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Senior Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.