Certified Island County election results yield no surprises

Island County’s 2016 General Election results were certified Tuesday, revealing no surprises.

Barbara Bailey is still up for another term as the 10th Legislative District’s senator, as are Helen Price Johnson and Jill Johnson in their respective county commissioner races.

Bailey, an Oak Harbor Republican, claimed 54.42 percent of the vote in Island County — 23,151 votes in all — while her challenger, Oak Harbor Democrat Angie Homola, took home 45.58 percent — 19,391 votes. Bailey did even better district wide, earning 56.7 percent to Homola’s 43.3 percent; the district includes parts of Skagit and Snohomish counties.

Price Johnson, a Clinton Democrat, was elected to another four years as the District 1 county commissioner with a strong win over Coupeville Republican Gary Wray. Price Johnson received 55.26 percent of the vote to Wray’s 44.74 percent. Similarly, Johnson, the incumbent Oak Harbor Republican vying for the District 2 seat, won a decisive victory over Oak Harbor Democrat John Fowkes with Johnson taking 60.98 percent of the vote. Fowkes received 39.02 percent.

In other races, 10th Legislative District House of Representative incumbents Norma Smith and Dave Hayes, both Republicans, secured additional terms as well. Smith claimed a whopping 72.51 percent of the vote in Island County — 71.95 district wide — over Libertarian challenger Michael Scott. Hayes also handily defeated his challenger, Democrat Doris Brevoort, with 57.05 percent of the vote in the county and 59.08 district wide.

In federal politics, Rick Larsen won another term in Congress. The Second Congressional District Democrat earned 58.14 percent of the vote in Island County and 64.02 percent district wide over Republican Marc Hennemann.

Finally, in the race for U.S. president, Republican Donald Trump secured the White House with the electoral college. Island County voters, however, cast more votes for his challenger, Democrat Hillary Clinton. She claimed 48.89 percent of the vote — 20,960 votes in all — to Trump’s 43.07 percent — 18,465 votes.

Broken down by areas, Trump won all but one precinct in Oak Harbor and North Whidbey while Clinton won every precinct on South Whidbey. Central Whidbey largely supported Clinton with just one of the six districts going to Trump. He did better on Camano, winning seven of the 11 voter precincts.

Statewide Clinton earned 54.3 percent of the vote to Trump’s 38.07.