Whidbey General Hospital’s property tax levy increase was gaining strong approval from voters, and Republican Mark Brown is on track to become the next sheriff of Island County.

The hospital proposal, which would increase the property tax levy to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to

pay for improved ambulance service and other emergency medical services, has won 71 percent of the vote.

A 60 percent “yes” vote is needed for passage.

“I think we’re extremely humbled by the support we’ve gotten from the community up to this point,” said Roger Meyers, EMS director at Whidbey General Hospital. “It looks very positive.”

“I could not have even perceived that kind of support in this day and age of shrinking dollars. We’re very pleased with that,” Meyers said. “We’re extremely grateful to all the people who have supported us through this levy.”

The six-year levy will dedicate 7 cents of a 13-cent increase to enhance basic life support needs and to continuing funding off-island transports, which keep advanced life support ambulances on the island available for more serious injuries.

Five cents of the increase will go to construction of central and South Whidbey paramedic quarters; one cent is needed to offset decreasing reimbursements and increasing costs.

The measure was an all-or-nothing proposal; the levy also included the property tax portion that covers hospital services.

In early returns, 5,222 voters had approved the hospital levy increase, while 2,086 had voted against it.

In early primary vote returns, Brown is leading his Republican opponents William “De” Dennis and L.C. “Lenny” Marlborough.

With 9,937 votes counted and 9,500 more votes to count, Brown had collected 2,058 votes, nearly double the amount of votes earned by Dennis (1,096 votes) or Marlborough (1,141).

Democrat candidate for sheriff Jay Wallace had gathered 2,264 votes in early returns. Wallace, a former deputy who was fired by Sheriff Mike Hawley after Wallace allegedly lied about not responding to a 911 call where a woman was being held hostage in Freeland, switched parties in June from Republican to Democrat when his fellow Republicans refused to endorse him. Island County Democrats have also rejected him as a candidate.

In the race for county assessor, Don Mason had a huge lead over fellow Republican Daniel Jones. The winner will face Democrat Dave Mattens during the general election in November.

For candidates not facing an in-party opponent, Tuesday’s primary represents a “beauty contest” of sorts. Some said it was no indication of how they would fare in November.

For Island County Commissioner, District 3, Democrat John Dean and Republican William Byrd just a vote apart in early returns. Byrd, the incumbent, had 1,187 votes, while Dean had 1,188.

“People obviously had to vote along party lines,” Byrd said, adding that only residents in District 3 were able to vote on the commissioner’s race. That will change in the general election, as the whole county will be able to vote on the commissioner’s race.

Byrd said he was unsure what to take away from the primary vote tally.

“I would like to think that people would recognize the work I have done,” Byrd said.

“We’ll keep on working, keep on doing the things we’ve been doing. We’ll just keep on working on it and try to get our message out,” he said.

Dean, a newsman who stepped down from his post as editor of the Stanwood-Camano News to run for the seat, said the early results weren’t surprising.

“This is kind of what we thought would happen,” Dean said.

The vote was close because some voters may have checked “Republican” on their pick-a-party ballot so they could vote in the three-way GOP race for sheriff.

“I believe that there are Democrats and independents who used the ballot so they could participate in the sheriff’s race,” Dean said.

In the general election, those voters will come home to vote Democrat. Dean said he also expects to pick up votes from independents and Republicans.

“It’s all positive as far as I see it,” he said.

Dean said his strategy won’t change.

“It’s the same thing for all the candidates. It’s all about doorbelling at this point,” Dean said.

The race for prosecuting attorney was also close, according to the county’s early tally.

Democrat Greg Banks, the incumbent, had 3,620 votes, while Republican Steve Selby had 3,516 votes — a 104-vote difference in Bank’s favor.

“It looks like Republicans and Democrats are equally divided,” Selby said. “I thought it was interesting it’s almost an exact split between Democrats and Republicans.”

While the races for sheriff and assessor have gotten the most attention during the primary, Selby said he expected other races — such as his campaign for county prosecutor — will now be on voters’ radar.

“I guess how much information gets out is going to determine who the public thinks is more qualified,” Selby said.

Banks was not putting much stock in the primary vote.

“No voter was asked to make a choice between me and Steve Selby. It was a pick-a-party ballot,” Banks said.

He recalled that some Democrats wanted to know if he would mind if they voted Republican instead of Democrat in the primary, so they could influence the sheriff’s face.

“People asked me if it was OK,” Banks said.

“I’m not going to dwell on these results,” he added. “Four years ago at the primary, and it wasn’t a pick a party primary, in that one my opponent got more votes than I did in the primary. Everybody was saying, ‘Oh boy, Greg, this doesn’t look good. In the general I beat him 55 to 45 percent.”

“The primary doesn’t really mean a whole lot. My campaign isn’t about that horse race game. I’m out there meeting people and trying to get the truth out about my record, and not what the opposition is putting out. I want people to know the true facts,” Banks said.

In the race for county treasurer, Democrat incumbent Linda Riffe was leading Republican challenger John Morrow, 3,636 votes to 3,283.

In the race for the state House of Representatives, District 10, Position 2, incumbent Republican Barbara Bailey was facing a strong challenge from Democrat challenger Tim Knue. Bailey had received 7,272 votes in early returns from Island, Skagit and Snohomish counties, while Knue had picked up 6,962 votes.

The Bailey-Knue race was closer in the preliminary count in Island County; Bailey had received 3,777 votes to Knue’s 3,533.

In the race for the U.S. Representative District 2 position, Republican Doug Roulstone is winning over fellow Republican Teri Moats. Roulstone had locked up roughly 77 percent of the vote and will face incumbent Congressman Rick Larsen in the general election.

Larsen, a Democrat, had received 50,645 votes in Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties, according to early returns, while Roulstone had 25,798.

Larsen was also leading in the Island County count, gathering 4,113 votes to Roulstone’s 2,959.

The election results will be certified and become official on Sept. 29.