Election roundup: Brady leading Runyon in tight race for County Commissioner

By Tom Peterson 

Phil Brady

Candidate Phil Brady is leading Rod Runyon in the race for Wasco County Commissioner, Position 3, in unofficial election results posted tonight May 17 at 8 p.m., according to the Wasco County Clerk’s office.

As of 9:30 p.m. in Wasco County, voter turnout stood at 30.8 percent or 5,648 of the 18,338 active registered voters had cast a ballot.  

Rod Runyon

Brady, who threw his hat in the ring after Commissioner Kathy Schwartz opted to leave the position, is in a tight race with Runyon, who has served as commissioner for two terms in past years.

As of 8 p.m. tonight, the race stood with Brady garnering 52.01 percent to Runyon’s 47.68 percent. In true numbers, Brady had 2,346 voters to Runyon’s 2,151 votes - a margin of 195 votes.  

In the battle for Seventh District Circuit Court Judge, incumbent John Wolf was leading challenger Caleb Berthelsen, a young attorney who campaigned on the fact that Wolf was unable to hear many criminal cases due to a conflict of interest. 

John Wolf

Wolf’s wife, Leslie Wolf, is the Hood River County Deputy District Attorney within the District, making her husband incapable of hearing criminal cases in which she is a party to or directly involved.

The Seventh District includes Hood River, Wasco and soon-to-be Gilliam counties. 

As of 9 p.m. tonight, the race stood with John Wolf at 53.03 percent or 2,272 votes. And Berthelsen had 46.66 percent or 1,999 votes a separation of 273 votes.

In the push for Wasco County Commissioner, Position 1, incumbent Scott Hege is on a runaway. He was challenged by Cynthia Bearss, whose career has been in accounting, according to her candidacy filing. 

Bearss neither responded to CCCNew’s request for an interview nor filled out responses to emailed questions. 

Caleb Berthelsen

In Dufur, a three-year recreation district local operation tax for operating purposes was passing with 57.37 percent of the vote, or 144 votes. Those voting against tallied 107 votes or 42.63 percent. Voter turnout in Dufur thus far is 27.49 percent or 259 ballots submitted. 

The operation tax requests a total of $165,000 during the three years or $55,000 per year. Money will be used to operate the district. which manages and maintains the local pool among other duties. 

Results of the election are preliminary as additional ballots postmarked May 17 will be counted in days to come. 

Interim results that include postmarked ballots will be posted on May 20, according to the Wasco County Clerk’s webpage. Ballot challenges must be resolved by June 7. 

Local and state results for state primary contests can be found here.

Scott Hege