A levy lid lift for Fire District 21, also known as North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, was leading as were a Blaine candidate for the 42nd Legislative District seat and the Blaine School Board member running to be Whatcom County’s top prosecutor, according to unofficial election results released on Thursday morning.
The measure had 52.38% yes votes, or 4,801, and 47.62% no votes, or 4,365. It needs a simple majority to pass.
This election marked the fourth time such a measure has gone before voters in six years, after voters turned down previous requests.
About 58,077 ballots have been counted across Whatcom County as of Thursday morning, making for 34% of registered voters.
Here are the early results for other races in the Aug. 4 primary election, as of Thursday. Because this election is a top-two primary, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation.
2nd Congressional District
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) likely will advance to the November general election against challenger Edwin Feller (R-Lynden).
Across the district, Larsen garnered 37.26%, or 21,351, of votes while Feller received 35.27%, or 20,211 votes.
State Senator, 42nd Legislative District
Erika Creydt (R-Blaine) should advance with 44.5% of votes, or 17,537, for the seat held by Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), who didn’t seek reelection.
As for the second possible candidate, that was a close race as of Thursday morning.
Michael Shepard (D-Bellingham) was next with 26.8% supporting his bid, or 10,563 votes, while Eamonn Collins (D-Bellingham) trailed with 26.2% of votes, or 10,326.
State Representative Position 1, 42nd Legislative District
Incumbent Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) and challenger Misty Flowers (R-Bellingham) will both move on to November, with Rule receiving 56.29%, or 22,231, of votes, while Flowers garnered 43.51% of votes, or 17,185.
State Representative Position 2, 42nd Legislative District
Incumbent Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) and Justin Pike (R-Ferndale), a detective at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, will face off in the November general election.
Timmons received 54.07% of votes, or 21,392, while Pike garnered 45.81% of votes, or 18,124.
Whatcom County Prosecutor
This was a four-way race after incumbent Eric Richey didn’t seek reelection.
The top vote-getter was defense attorney Ryan Swinburnson, who also is Blaine School Board president, with 38.08%, or 21,307, of votes, followed by Jesse Corkern with 21.89%, or 12,248 votes.
Corkern is in the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, as are the other two candidates.
Dona Bracke garnered 20.71% of votes, or 11,589 and Erik Sigmar 19.17% of votes, or 10,723.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4
A voter-approved ballot measure last year expanded the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners from three to five.
In the six-way race, Lynden resident Paul Burrill was leading with 30.28% %, or 3,219 votes, followed by Ferndale resident Tor Benson with 24.29%, or 2,582 votes.
Ferndale resident Samantha Cruz-Mendoza was the third top vote-getter in early returns with 19.59% of votes, or 2,083.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5
Six candidates faced off in this new voter-approved position for the port.
Acme resident Chris Elder received 41.41% of votes, or 4,342, and Shawn Ensley of Bellingham was second with 21.37% of votes, or 2,241.
Todd Lagestee of Bellingham was third with 17.82%, or 1,868 votes.
