Julie Anderson was leading incumbent Jan Shabro and Will Baker in early returns in the race to become Pierce County auditor.

Anderson, 45, has spent five years on the Tacoma City Council. She cited that experience, along with her nonprofit management background, as her chief qualifications.

Anderson has portrayed herself as a nonpartisan alternative to Shabro, a former Republican state representative who won appointment to the post in January.

“I’m hoping that trend line continues through the night,” Anderson said after the first returns came in.

Shabro, 69, touted her own legislative and management experience. She said she’s the best qualified for the job because she’s been doing it under difficult circumstances for the past 10 months. She’s had to cut her budget three times in that span, but has won the support of the union representing her employees, who have welcomed her leadership style.

Shabro could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Also running is Baker, a perennial candidate who has unsuccessfully run for offices ranging from governor and state auditor to Tacoma mayor. He has been arrested numerous times and just last week was fined $300 by the state Public Disclosure Commission for repeatedly failing to file require campaign paperwork.

If Anderson is elected, Pierce County would have its third auditor in a year. The office was vacated last January by Pat McCarthy, who won election as county executive last November.

The Republican-controlled County Council appointed Shabro to the post in January over the objections of local Democrats. The appointment resulted in two lawsuits, both of which were dismissed.

The nonpartisan office oversees county elections, licensing and animal control services.

This year’s auditor’s race is being decided by ranked-choice voting. Under that system, if one candidate gets a majority of the vote – more than 50 percent – they win. If not, a winner is determined by a process of elimination.

Early returns showed Anderson was not getting more than 50 percent of votes. However, an initial ranked-choice voting calculation showed Anderson winning the race.

An official ranked-choice voting calculation will not be performed until every ballot is counted.

David Wickert: 253-274-7341

david.wickert@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/politics