McEnerny-Ogle, Harless, Perez, Paulsen leading in Vancouver races

Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle appears set to face former county GOP chair Earl Bowerman in November’s general election, as first results from Tuesday’s primary were released this evening.

Initial returns showed McEnerny-Ogle with 68.93 percent of the ballots, compared with Bowerman’s 18.20 percent. Newcomer Doug Coop, who billed himself as the “Republican candidate” in the nonpartisan race, polled 12.87 percent in initial returns.

In Vancouver City Council races, Tuesday’s leaders were Kim Harless and John Blom for Position 1, incumbent Erik Paulsen and Kara Tess for Position 2, and Diana Perez and David Gellatly for Position 3. Glen Yung trails Gellatly by only 879 votes.

In other races, recently appointed Vancouver school board member Sandra Zavala-Ortega appears like to face Michelle Belkot in November after they outpolled challengers Chartisha Roberts and Kathleen S. O’Claire for Position 2. Wendy Smith, the Position 3 incumbent, led her three-way race and appears likely to face Jorge Bailey in November.

In the only contested race for Evergreen school board, incumbent Julie Bocanegra won 58.52 percent of the vote and will face Mike Appel in November.

In Camas, city council candidates backed by local businessman and conservative political operative David Madore both advanced to the November general election. Gary Perman received 38.64 percent of the vote for Ward 1, Position 2 and will face frontrunner Marilyn Dale-Boerke, who polled 42.23 percent, in November. In Ward 1, Position 2, Madore backed Leslie Lewallen, who received 48.28 percent of the vote. Jennifer McDaniel received 243 votes, enough for second place initially, but John Svilarich was only 32 votes behind, at 211. Alicia King has 191 votes.

Votes for Washougal mayor were close, with Rochelle Ramos capturing 38.75 percent, Derik Ford, 32.90 percent, and Paul Greenlee, 28.35 percent. The top two finishers will face off in November.

In Yacolt and the surrounding rural area, a levy to support North Country EMS received strong voter support, but voter turnout was lagging. It received 139 votes and 86.88 percent approval in Yacolt, where it needs 187 yes votes and 60 percent supermajority to pass. An identical measure received 1,856 yes votes and 77.98 percent approval in the rural area, where it needs 2,085 yes votes and at least 60 percent approval.

More ballots will be counted on Wednesday and in the coming days. Turnout is hovering below the 20 percent range, as COVID-19 and summertime activities eclipsed local politics for most voters.

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