PORT ANGELES — Randy Johnson and Brian Coughenour widened their leads on their respective opponents in last week’s general election after the Clallam County Auditor’s Office processed an additional 3,980 election ballots Monday.
Johnson, a Clallam County commissioner candidate who filed with no party preference, was ahead of Democrat Ron Richards 5,684 votes to 4,556 votes — 55.51 percent to 44.49 percent.
Johnson, the apparent successor to longtime commissioner and soon-to-be state Rep. Mike Chapman, had 54.04 percent support from District 2 constituents in the first ballot count last Tuesday.
Coughenour, a sitting Clallam County Superior Court judge, led challenger Dave Neupert 14,980 votes to 13,598 votes — 52.42 percent to 47.58 percent — after the ballot count Monday.
Coughenour, who was appointed to the post in 2015, had carried 52.05 percent of the early countywide vote last Tuesday night.
Donald Trump remained the county favorite for president Monday, widening his lead over Hillary Clinton.
President-elect Trump, who trailed Hillary Clinton by 319 votes in Clallam County on election night, was ahead by 531 votes, at 15,685 to 15,154, as of Monday.
All of the other leading candidates and ballot measures remained ahead when Monday’s batch of ballots were processed.
The County Auditor’s Office said Monday an estimated 6,000 ballots still need to be counted.
Ballots that arrived in the mail or drop boxes last Tuesday will be processed with the next ballot count Wednesday by 4:30 p.m.
In other contested races and items, a proposition to increase the number of Forks Community Hospital commissioners from three to five was passing with 70.24 percent support Monday.
An advisory vote on banning fireworks in Sequim showed 68.16 percent in favor of prohibiting fireworks.
In the 24th Legislative District, which includes Clallam, Jefferson and part of Grays Harbor County, Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, led Danille Turissini, R-Port Ludlow, 57.36 percent to 42.64 percent as of Monday.
Incumbent State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, led John Alger, R-Sequim, 57.61 percent to 42.39 percent.
Chapman, D-Port Angeles, led George Vrable, R-Port Ludlow, 61.3 percent to 38.7 percent.
The general election will be certified Nov. 29.
With about 6,600 ballots left to count, voter turnout was 66.94 percent as of Monday. The county auditor’s office had processed 34,131 ballots that were mailed to 50,987 registered voters.
Clallam County voter turnout in the last presidential election in 2012 was 82.14 percent.
In 2008, Clallam County voter turnout was 85.57 percent.
Randy Johnson