Primary narrows November race for top two candidates

OKANOGAN – The official results from Okanogan County’s August 2 Primary Election confirm an approved hospital and the candidates who will face off in the Nov. 8 general election.

The final count of votes from August 16, show the following results:

• The third annual TRH levy request (Public Hospital District No. 1) passed in both Douglas and Okanogan counties. The wider margin was in Okanogan County where 2,599 votes (68.81 percent) approved and 1,178 (31.19 percent) opposed. The margin in Douglas County was 239 votes (50.42 percent) approved and 235 (49.58 percent) opposed.

The levy will fund operations for the hospital’s emergency department through 2023. Like its two predecessors the new levy will raise 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. As an example, a home valued at $200,000 will contribute $66.

• Okanogan County Sheriff: Incumbent Anthony Hawley and challenger Paul Budrow finished one-two in the three-candidate field. Hawley has 4,601 votes (40.43 percent) to Budrow’s 4,295 (37.74 percent).

• Okanogan County Commissioner, District 3: Tonasket Republican Lloyd Caton Jr. finished ahead of fellow Republican Jon Neal of Oroville. Caton cornered 1,607 votes (37.11 percent) to Neal’s 1,489 (34.39 percent). Both are running for the vacancy left by Jim DeTro who held the post fort 12 years but did not file for re-election.

• Okanogan County Coroner: Rojean (Jeannie) Hughes of Tonasket, the only candidate to file for the four-year term will face write-in incumbent David Rodriguez in the general. Hughes received 81.15 percent of the vote compared to 18.85 percent for Rodriguez.

• Congressional District 4 - U.S. Representative

The race for Congressional District 4, which includes Okanogan County along with Adams, Benton, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Klickitat, and Yakima counties, was a close finish for the two top contenders, Republican incumbent Dan Newhouse, and Yakima Democrat Doug White. Newhouse finished with 38,331 (25.49 percent) and White with 37,760 (25.11 percent).

• Congressional District 8 – U.S. Representative

Congressional District 8 takes in Douglas, Chelan, Kittitas, King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Democratic incumbent Kim Schrier captured nearly 50 percent of the vote (47.86) to lead her nearest challenger, Republican Matt Larkin, with 16.99 percent.