Incumbents survive challenges in county races

Clark County’s incumbent prosecutor, treasurer, assessor and clerk handily fended off challengers in Tuesday’s election.

In the messiest of the races, Democrat Tony Golik won a second four-year term as prosecutor, defeating Republican Josephine Townsend, a Vancouver attorney, with 55.8 percent of the votes to her 44 percent.

Townsend had alleged Golik mismanaged the prosecutor’s office, yet her past also raised questions. She resigned in lieu of termination after three years as Vancouver’s city prosecutor, and was disciplined by the Washington State Bar Association in January 2006.

The 80 percent of Clark County Bar Association members who favored Golik in a poll foreshadowed his Election Day victory.

Democrat Doug Lasher, who has served as treasurer for 30 years, received 54.1 percent of the votes to propel him into another four year term. Challenger Lauren Colas, a Republican, had touted her private sector experience.

Democrat Darren Wertz, clerk of the Board of Equalization, failed to unseat Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick, a Republican, who garnered 60.2 percent of the votes on election night on his way to a second term.

Republican Scott Weber, seeking a second term as clerk, fended off Democrat Deanne Pauli-Hammond, a financial controller who campaigned on her 25 years of management experience. Weber received 56.3 percent of the vote.