Two Island County races remain too close to call

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 7, 2026

The vote counts remain too close to call in two races for Island County offices after Thursday night’s count of ballots cast in the Aug. 4 primary election.

The Island County Elections Office reports that about 5,000 ballots remain to be counted.

The races for the second spot in the District 3 commissioner and county clerk contests have both tightened since the first ballot count.

While Republican Matthew Van Pelt of North Whidbey continues to lead the District 3 commissioner race with nearly 46% of the vote, the two Democratic candidates from Camano Island remain neck and neck in the race for the second spot in the Top Two primary. Just 117 votes separate them, with Grant Shaw receiving 1,856 votes, or about 28%, and Satin Arnett receiving 1,739 votes, or just over 26%.

In the four-way race for county clerk, Democrat Dierdre Butler continues to lead with nearly 35% of the vote. The race for the second spot has tightened to just 38 votes, with Republican Maria Hazelo holding a slim edge over Democrat Amber Sewell, 5,924 votes to 5,886.

The clerk’s race is currently within the threshold for an automatic machine recount under state law, which requires a recount if the margin is less than 2,000 votes and less than 0.5% of the combined votes cast for the two candidates. A hand recount would require the margin to narrow to less than 150 votes and less than 0.25% of the combined vote.

In the four-way race for county auditor, incumbent Sheilah Crider, who’s running as an independent, is leading with 39.7% of the vote while Democrat Barbara Fuller has 28.9%. Andrea Downs has 18.5% and Terry Lacey has 13%.

While the election will narrow the field in county and legislative races to two candidates who will advance to the general election, the early vote totals in races with only two candidates provide a snapshot of voter support.

In the closely watched race for Island County sheriff, the margin between incumbent Rick Felici, who’s running as an independent, and Democrat Tavier Wasser, the Langley police chief, has narrowed since the first count. Felici has nearly 52% while Wasser has just over 48%.

Felici said Thursday that the results show he’s in “pretty good shape.”

“The numbers are encouraging,” he said. “It’s halftime, and there’s a lot of time between now and the main event.”

Wasser said he was encouraged by the results.

“For a first-time candidate running against an incumbent, it’s really positive,” he said.

Island County Assessor Kelly Mauck is the only local incumbent trailing in the primary. Democrat Doug Stults, a member of the assessor’s staff, has about 53.7% of the vote, while Mauck, who is running with no party preference, has 46.3%.

It appears that Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, an independent, will have a challenger in the general election. Freeland attorney Andrew Scott announced in early July that he was running as a write-in candidate. His name will appear on the general election ballot if he receives write-in votes equal to at least 1% of the total votes cast for prosecutor in the primary.

Election officials have counted 1,014 unresolved write-in votes in the race, making it likely Scott will qualify for the general election ballot if most of those votes were cast for him.

Scott said he was surprised and thankful that he was able to earn so much support in such a short amount of time.

“The feedback from people in both parties has been phenomenal,” he said, adding that people regularly stop by his office to express their support. He said someone he didn’t know even posted a handmade campaign sign on Highway 20 at Classic Road.

Banks said his campaign team expected Scott to reach the write-in threshold.

“He seems to have benefited from the very vocal support of another candidate who is unhappy with his conviction by an Island County jury for violating election laws,” Banks said. “We’re looking forward to a campaign that allows voters to compare our prosecution experience and record of public service.”

Scott said he has spoken to Tim Hazelo, a Republican candidate for state representative, who supports his candidacy. Banks successfully prosecuted Hazelo on a felony charge of unauthorized access to a voting center. Scott said Hazelo is not involved in his campaign.

In Legislative District 10 races, the incumbents are far ahead of their challengers.

Rep. Dave Paul, D-Oak Harbor, has nearly 59% of the vote while Tim Hazelo has nearly 22% and Carrie Kennedy, also a Republican, has 19%.

Rep. Clyde Shavers, D-Clinton, has about 58% while Republican Robert “Chili” Hicks has nearly 42%.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, will face Edwin Feller, a Republican, in the November general election.