Primary numbers still trickling in

Preliminary results have begun to trickle in from the Aug. 2 Snohomish County primary election, but there are still ballots left to count. The following results reflect the counts as of Sunday, Aug. 7.

Voter turnout was recorded at 31.30 percent and will continue to rise. The election will be certified on Aug. 16.

In the 39th Legislative District, three candidates were vying for Washington State House Rep. Elizabeth Scott's open Position 2 seat. So far, the early results are definitive. Longtime politician John Koster, a Republican from the Arlington area, will face Ronda Metcalf in November's election. Metcalf, a Democrat from Darrington, received 37.12 percent of the vote to Koster's 58.11 percent, while Libertarian candidate Shane Driscoll trailed behind with 4.5 percent.

"I am very pleased. We got the Democratic base of the 39th out across three counties, and more than that, we tapped into the people who are tired of the way things are ' a growing heroin and other drug problems across our district and not enough services to help our families,GÇ¥ Metcalf said. "What we know is that voters want something new ' a voice that is fresh and ready to break up the gridlock in Olympia.GÇ¥

Metcalf said she spoke with candidate Driscoll on the night of the primary, and she anticipates his support in November's general election. Metcalf served as a combat medic in the Army, and has history in law enforcement and corrections.

"I am running as the only law-and-order candidate in this race, as a veteran, a former corrections officer, a mental health counselor specializing in drug addiction and one of the first women to be trained by the U.S. Army as a combat medic,GÇ¥ Metcalf said.

If successful in November, Koster will be returning to familiar territory, having served as the 39th District Representative from 1995GÇô2001. He has also been involved in county politics, serving on the Snohomish County Council from 2002GÇô14.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of the primary election and grateful to those who continue to support me with their vote,GÇ¥ Koster said. "The campaign will continue to work hard and reach out to as many voters as we can prior to the general election. I look forward to representing the 39th District in Olympia and working to resolve the many difficult issues that face the citizens of Washington state.GÇ¥

Four candidates battled it out for the PUD Commissioner District 3 position, which will likely come down to incumbent Toni Olson, who received 40.54 percent of the vote, versus challenger Gordon Sibley, who earned 23.61 percent. This knocks out candidates Larry Wagner and Dustan Bunt, who earned 19.47 and 15.27 percent, respectively.

Monroe Fire District 3's Proposition 1 merger proposal is passing with flying colors at an 80.86 percent approval rate. Once the election is certified, the department hopes to fully implement the merger with District 7 sometime in October. As the merging district, District 3 will be absorbed by District 7 and will be known as District 7. Now governed by two separate five-member boards of commissioners, the new district will be led by 10 commissioners who will drop off gradually over time.

"Monroe Fire District 3 wants to thank the community for supporting the merger with Fire District 7,GÇ¥ said Fire Chief Jamie Silva. "This will improve emergency services for both communities and be more cost-effective for taxpayers long-term. We will continue to report back to our community about the next steps as the two organizations finalize the merger.GÇ¥

The likely passage of Proposition 1 places a new campaign on Monroe's radar. District 7 Commissioner Guy Palumbo, a Democrat from Maltby, is currently leading against Democrat Luis Moscoso for the state senator position in District 1, which neighbors the 39th. Palumbo has been a champion for improvements along State Route 522 and hopes to be able to continue his advocacy as a senator.

The Moscoso versus Palumbo race has been a nail-biter. Initially, Moscoso led among Snohomish County voters, but Palumbo has pulled ahead and his lead has grown larger. Currently, Palumbo has about a 4 1/2 percent lead in King County, with more than 1 1/2 percent lead in Snohomish County.

If successful, he'll face off against Republican candidate Mindie Wirth in November. If elected, Palumbo said he plans to retain his seat as a fire commissioner.

The District 1 senator position is a crucial one for residents of the 39th District, since the area of S.R. 522 most problematic for Sky Valley residents is in that district.-á -á

For some candidates, the results have served as a gauge to determine how much work they need to accomplish before November. For the Snohomish County Council position representing the District 5, Lake Stevens City Councilmember Sam Low earned a bold lead over incumbent politician Hans Dunshee, with 51.99 percent of the vote to Dunshee's 47.63 percent.-á -á

"I am very pleased with the initial results of the primary tonight,GÇ¥ wrote Low on social media on Aug. 2. "I want to thank the voters of Snohomish County for putting their trust in me! We have a long way to go before November! Tonight shows that the voters are paying attention to the issues! So honored to be one step closer to representing the hard working families of the 5th District.GÇ¥

In the 39th District, incumbent Rep. Dan Kristiansen has a comfortable lead over opponent Linda Wright, with 60.24 percent of the vote to Wright's 39.46 percent.

Sen. Kirk Pearson, unopposed, received 95.49 percent of the vote.

In the governor's office, incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee will face off against Republican candidate Bill Bryant. Numbers so far in Snohomish County favor Inslee, who received 46.10 percent of the vote to Bryant's 40.16 percent. A total of nine other candidates received significantly less votes and will be eliminated. In King County, Inslee's lead is even larger, with 64.17 percent of the vote to Bryant's 26.93 percent.-á -á

Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman will face challenger and former Seattle City Councilmember Tina Podlodowski in November. Wyman, a Republican, is passionate about elections and voting and is a state and nationally certified elections administrator. First elected in 2012, Wyman is seeking her second term.

On a national level, longtime U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Bothell, will run against Chris Vance, a Republican from Seattle. In Snohomish County, Murray received 49.8 percent of the vote to Vance's 30.15 percent. A total of 15 other candidates will be eliminated.

The top-two vote-earners for the U.S. District 1 Representative seat were incumbent Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, with 49.13 percent of the vote, and Republican Robert Sutherland, who received 34.81 percent.

Snohomish County will continue counting ballots until all votes have been tallied. The election will be certified on Aug. 16. To view the results, visit www.snoco.org/elections/results/ecurrent.htm.