Price Johnson leads commissioner race in Island County

Democrat Helen Price Johnson is leading in the race for the District 1 seat on the Island County board of commissioners in early vote returns.

August 19, 2008 11:48 pm
Helen Price Johnson reacts after seeing the first vote tally that puts her in the lead for the District 1 Island County commissioner race Tuesday night.
Helen Price Johnson reacts after seeing the first vote tally that puts her in the lead for the District 1 Island County commissioner race Tuesday night.

Democrat Helen Price Johnson is leading in the race for the District 1 seat on the Island County board of commissioners in early vote returns.

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Phil Bakke was in second, with 1,413 voters to Price Johnson’s 3,191.

No-party candidate Curt Gordon was third in the four-way race, with 1,333 votes.

Republican Reece Rose has 1,036 votes.

Price Johnson gathered with her supporters at Neil’s Clover Patch Cafe in Bayview. The restaurant erupted in cheers when the first vote count was announced on the county’s Web site, and supporters rushed over to hug Price Johnson.

A total of 15,928 votes were counted, with 5,000 left to count.