Early election results show who’s ahead in Gig Harbor-area races Tuesday night
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Early vote counts show leading candidates for Gig Harbor mayor and two council seats.
- Early results also indicate candidates leading in two races for Peninsula School Board.
- Counts show how voters feel about a 0.1% sales tax increase to fund arts and culture.
Patrick MacLeod Ammann and Emily Stone appear to be in the lead for two separate Gig Harbor City Council seats and Mary Barber is leading the mayoral race, according to early election results Tuesday night. Peninsula School District school board candidates Matt Bruhn and David Olson were leading the way in their respective races.
Early results showed a new sales tax to fund a Cultural Access Program in the city failing Tuesday night.
The next ballot count will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Pierce County Auditor’s Office. Results will be certified on Nov. 25, according to the Pierce County Auditor.
There are about 9,000 ballots left to be counted total for elections in Pierce County.
Gig Harbor City Council races
The Gig Harbor City Council is responsible for “enacting all legislation and making general policy decisions governing the city,” according to the city’s website. As the city continues to grow and faces housing targets from the state, a key task for its leaders will be shaping the regulatory environment determining where and how developers choose to build in the city. Candidates for city council and mayor shared their views on development in interviews with The News Tribune last month.
After the dust settles, five of seven seats on the city council will have different faces — though many will be familiar to those following shifts in the council’s makeup over the last year. Emily Stone is running to keep Position 3, the seat she was appointed to. Her opponent is Jeni Woock, who currently holds Position 1. Stephen McDuffie is running against Patrick MacLeod Ammann for Position 2.
Unopposed Gig Harbor City Council candidates this election are Loreto Tessicini for Position 1, Julie Martin for Position 4 (her listed opponent, Dan Wright, appears on ballots and in the voters’ pamphlet but has withdrawn from the race) and Reid Ekberg for Position 7.
Voter turnout for the Gig Harbor City Council and mayoral races was 40.52% as of Tuesday night.
Position 2: Patrick Ammann and Stephen McDuffie
Patrick MacLeod Ammann had 53.48% (1813 votes) while Stephen McDuffie had 46.40% (1573 votes) as of Tuesday night.
“I entered this race out of concern for my community, and so far I’m just grateful for all the support I’ve received from my neighbors, friends and family,” Ammann said in a phone call Tuesday night. “But obviously with that support comes responsibility. The voters so far have been leaning in my direction for this, with this early vote count, and I’m just really grateful for everyone who has voted for me.”
He added that he wants to thank his opponent, McDuffie, “for a really good, strong and honorable campaign,” describing their race as “really friendly” and “something we need more of.”
During his campaign, Ammann, 24, emphasized his perspective as a Gen Z candidate with a background in environmental science and ecological restoration. The recent University of Washington graduate studied ecological restoration and has hands-on experience working on ecological projects through organizations like AmeriCorps and the Port of Tacoma, according to his campaign website.
Reached via phone Tuesday night, McDuffie said he had sent Ammann a message of congratulations and wishes him the best. Having a Gen Z voice on the city council would be good, he said.
“ ... sometimes you come out behind,” McDuffie said. “It’s all right because there’s bigger and better things out there.”
This will give him more time to be at home with his family, he added.
“At this point if anything were to change and I would actually win, cool, if I don’t win, cool,” he said.
McDuffie, 36, is a husband and father of two who told The News Tribune that his family is a big reason why he ran for city council, wanting to shape the town where his children would grow up and support “safe neighborhoods, well-planned growth, and strong local services,” as he writes on his campaign website. He currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as a captain and logistics management specialist, and was a Gig Harbor Parks Commission member from March 2024 to March 2025.
Position 3: Emily Stone and Jeni Woock
Emily Stone was leading by a clear margin Tuesday night, with 63.34% of the vote (2237 votes) to Jeni Woock’s 36.55% (1291 votes).
Stone, 32, was appointed to serve the remainder of former council member Brenda Lykins’ term following Lykins’ resignation earlier this year. She works as senior policy advisor for the state Department of Commerce, and previously held jobs as public policy director for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as a staffer in the state Legislature and as a caseworker managing cases related to domestic violence, mental health needs and other crises.
“I think what I want to say is I am just in awe and so grateful for the voters’ support and trust in me,” Stone said. “This is my home, this is where my family’s been for generations and I’m really looking forward to continuing to serve the community really that my family has called home for so long.”
She added that she isn’t “necessarily banking on anything” until more ballots are counted, but she’s grateful for the support after an extensive campaign. She described her opponent as “a very beloved incumbent” and that she had expected a very close race, so the results so far have been a big surprise.
“ ... I’m really proud of the grassroots campaign that we ran, relied heavily on volunteers and donors and my network to be able to help support make this happen,” she said. “And really it’s been the community leading the effort and really humbled and grateful for that.”
Stone told The News Tribune last month that she sees herself bringing an important perspective as a young professional and renter in Gig Harbor, and pointed to her background in public policy. A priority for her is creating more housing options to meet people’s needs, such as duplexes, townhomes and housing for older adults.
Woock said in a phone call Tuesday evening that she reached out to Stone to thank her and congratulate her.
“It’s been a wonderful eight years,” Woock said about her time on the city council. “And it’s been the greatest honor of my life to serve the citizens of Gig Harbor.”
Gig Harbor is a special town, and she’ll keep seeing people on the streets, she said.
Woock, 75, was first elected to the city council in 2018 and has served two terms so far. In her professional life, she ran an art business with her husband for 34 years before retiring. Her decision to run for a third term came from a concern about how possible incentives for development would impact taxpayers, she told The News Tribune.
Woock also said that she doesn’t support some of the higher residential density targets the city adopted in their Comprehensive Plan because of what she sees as a lack of supporting infrastructure in areas that have been upzoned.
Gig Harbor Mayor
Mary Barber is leading the mayoral race by a landslide as of early results Tuesday, with 83.94% (2937 votes) to Chris Haywood’s 15.35% (537 votes).
Mary Barber, 69, currently serves as the city’s mayor, having been appointed to the role after the resignation of former mayor Tracie Markley. The mayor acts as the city’s chief executive officer, with veto authority and the ability to propose policies.
“I am thrilled that the community has shown their support for me for serving as their mayor for the next four years and I really look forward to working together with everyone to make this city an even greater place to live, work, play,” Barber said in a phone call Tuesday night.
Barber spent about 40 years working in strategic communications and public relations before retiring. Prior to becoming mayor, she was appointed to fill the city council seat vacated by Markley in 2022, and went on to win that seat by election in 2023.
She told The News Tribune last month that she wants to stay on as mayor because of her love for the community and the belief that “together, we can keep the small-town charm that we love, but also make this town an even more vibrant community than it already is.”
Chris Haywood has been running an HVAC small business for over 25 years, according to his statement in the Pierce County Voters’ Pamphlet. He declined an interview with The News Tribune last month and shares his views on public safety, affordable housing and other issues on his campaign website.
The News Tribune wasn’t immediately able to reach Haywood Tuesday night.
Peninsula School District school board races
The Peninsula School District School Board is responsible for developing policies, overseeing the district’s budget, supervising the superintendent, evaluating curriculum and engaging with the community, according to the board website. Two of five seats are up for election this year.
Voter turnout for the school board races was 35.20% as of Tuesday evening.
District 2: Matt Bruhn and Emily DuCharme
Early results showed Matt Bruhn ahead by a few hundred votes, earning 50.95% (8799 votes) to opponent Emily DuCharme’s 48.70% (8410 votes) Tuesday evening.
In a phone call Tuesday evening, Bruhn spoke to the closeness of the race, saying that the results are “looking good currently” but he doesn’t know how many votes are still left to be counted, and expects the counts to remain close.
Over the next few days, he’ll be “anxiously waiting” to see what happens, he said. He expressed appreciation for everyone who’s voted so far, and is “excited and hopeful” for the opportunity to help the district.
Seeing that “many people have entrusted me with having such a big responsibility is a huge deal,” he said.
Bruhn, 36, is a senior sales director for Vividly, a startup that offers trade promotion management software. He lives in the Wauna area and has two children who attend Minter Creek Elementary School. He told The News Tribune last month that a major reason he decided to run for school board is his disagreement with how the school district handled the decision to switch principals across several schools earlier this year. Cornerstones of his campaign include ensuring transparency with families, supporting teachers and promoting equity among students and schools.
DuCharme spoke positively about the results Tuesday evening. She’ll continue watching the numbers, she said.
“I’m feeling good,” she said. “Regardless of what happens this was never about politics for me. This was about kids and making things better for our district.”
DuCharme, 42, is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Gig Harbor North. She has one child at Harbor Ridge Middle School and one at Peninsula High School. In her campaign, DuCharme has highlighted her perspective as a parent of a child receiving special education services and as a member of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council, where she’s helped encourage collaboration between parents and the district.
District 5: Jonathan Appleton and David Olson
Incumbent David Olson has a healthy lead with 55.95% (9971 votes) to challenger Jonathan Appleton’s 43.93% (7829 votes) as of early results Tuesday evening.
“I’m feeling thrilled,” Olson said in a phone call Tuesday night. “The voters sent a strong message.”
He said that he feels voters recognized his commitment to student outcomes and preparing students for academic success.
Olson emphasized his gratitude to the voters.
“I think that my 12 years on the school board, the voters acknowledged the great work that I’ve done,” he said.
Olson, 66, has served on the school board for 12 years and comes from a background in the trades, serving for 28 years in the U.S. Navy in roles including electrician and underwater welder before moving to a career in banking. Olson pointed to his experience on the school board in an interview with The News Tribune and said his public finance background is a strength when it comes to understanding the school district’s budget.
Appleton said in a phone call Tuesday night that though the results aren’t where he wants to be, he had a great experience on the campaign trail meeting people in the community.
“I’ve had a blast and I’m going to stay involved, win or loss,” he said. “I’m going to continue to serve my community and continue to be there to help make things better for kids.”
“ ... there’s been so much enthusiasm from so many parents and so many educators to make sure that all kids are respected, valued and feel supported. And I’m not going to give up on that even if I lose this race.”
He also said he hopes his campaign, which he did while working full-time, is an inspiration for others to step up too.
Appleton, 45, works for a consumer finance lending company as a district manager. He lives in the Uptown area of Gig Harbor and has two fifth-grade kids at Pioneer Elementary. One of his main priorities on the campaign trail has been combating harassment, intimidation and bullying in the district, and he told The News Tribune last month he’d advocate for more frequent progress reports to the school board on the issue and commit to visiting the district’s different schools to listen to the needs of staff.
Gig Harbor sales tax measure
Voters appear to be soundly rejecting a 0.1% sales and use tax that would support arts, science and culture activities in Gig Harbor, based on early results Tuesday evening: 56.26% (2022 votes) voted no, and 43.74% (1572 votes) voted yes.
The measure requires a simple majority to pass. The voter turnout was 40.52% as of Tuesday evening.
The cultural access program sales tax would generate about $1.2 million annually to invest in public schools and nonprofits providing access to this programming, according to the city’s website. The tax would go into effect for seven years beginning April 1, 2026 with funds available to recipient organizations starting in 2027.
Taxpayers would pay 10 cents for every $100 spent on items subject to sales tax, which in Washington state excludes prescription drugs and groceries (besides alcohol, prepared food and other exceptions). Organizations that may be eligible to receive funding include the Harbor History Museum and Harbor WildWatch.
Such funding mechanisms to support arts and culture are authorized by the state Legislature, and can be approved either through a ballot measure put to the voters or through a councilmanic vote, according to the Washington State Arts Commission. The Tacoma City Council recently reauthorized their program, Tacoma Creates, via a unanimous vote.
The sales tax would increase Gig Harbor’s total sales tax rate from 9.1% to 9.2%. Since 2019, voters have approved sales tax increases of 0.2% and 0.1% to fund transportation improvements and public safety, respectively. The city council also approved a 0.1% sales tax increase last year to fund pavement maintenance.
Find updates on other Pierce County races on The News Tribune’s live results page.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM.
