The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Winners in the early count of 2015 Wahkiakum County general election ballots easily maintained their leads when election officials made their second count last Thursday.

Voters continued to favor an advisory ballot asking if the county should enact an ordinance defining and regulating junk, junk vehicles, and solid waste visible on private property from a public right of way. The latest count gave the measure 69 percent approval with a 968-432 vote. On election day, the vote was 816-327, 71 percent approval.

Early winners maintained their leads in the few contested races in Wahkiakum County. By race, the results were:

--Port District 1 commissioner: Brett Deaton 342, Gary Quigley, 226. Deaton led 290-190 on election day.

--Wahkiakum School District board of directors: Susan M. O'Connor 530, Derek A. West 361. O'Connor led 442-302 on election day.

--Port District 2 commissioner: Lee Tischer 490, John B. Nelson 165. Tischer led Nelson, who didn't campaign for the office, 392-132 on election day.

--Cemetery District 2 board of commissioners: Steve McClain led Tom Blalock 75-30. McClain led 57-23 on election day.

Election officers will make a final count of legal ballots and certify the results November 24. So far, only three ballots remain to be counted.

Of the county's 2,959 registered voters, 1,421 returned ballots, a 48.02 percent voter turnout.