3 things we learned from the Pierce County primary, from council races to tax measures
The first ballots have been counted from Tuesday’s primary election in Pierce County, and we’re getting an idea about which candidates will move on to November and which tax measures are likely to pass.
The election won’t be certified until Aug. 15, but here are three things we learned:
Tacoma council makeup
Let’s cut to the chase.
The contest to whittle the field to two candidates from a five-person field in the race for Tacoma City Council, Position 3, was the one to watch.
Jamika Scott (37.15 percent) and Chris Van Vechten (35.41 percent) were the leaders Tuesday night. If the results hold, they will face off in November to replace Keith Blocker, who must give up his seat after eight years due to term limits.
Position 3 represents Hilltop, Central Tacoma and parts of the South End.
Scott has made a name for herself advocating for under-represented people and her vocal demands for justice after the police killing of Tacoma resident Manuel Ellis. She also made headlines recently when she filed a $100,000 claim for damages against the city stemming from her 2021 arrest downtown after a police officer drove through a crowd of pedestrians during an illegal street-racing event. Scott, who said she went to the scene to advocate for police accountability, was never charged.
Van Vechten is a local attorney with experience both as a county prosecutor and in private criminal defense. He once ran for the Tacoma School Board and worked as a staffer for longtime Tacoma state Rep. Dennis Flannigan.
Malando Redeemer, Sheldon Greyell and John Frazier were in third, fourth and fifth place respectively at the end of Tuesday’s counting.
In the Position 8 contest, incumbent Kristina Walker (69.8 percent) held a sizable lead Tuesday night and appeared ready to move on to November in her quest for a second term. The deputy mayor and transportation expert looks likely to be challenged in the general election by Todd Briske (18.07 percent). Hunter Henderson was in third with 10.8 percent.
Briske is a web developer and graduate of University of Washington Tacoma who lives in the Lincoln District.
Henderson is a lifelong Tacoma resident who lives on the Eastside after spending three decades on Hilltop. He recently earned a master’s in public administration and works in transportation planning.
Pierce County Council, District 2
Tuesday’s primary was basically a trial run for candidates Paul Herrera and Jamie Smith, who both advance to the November election since theirs is a partisan race.
With 55 percent of the vote Tuesday, Republican incumbent Herrera appears likely to hold onto the District 2 seat on the Pierce County Council against the challenge of Smith, a Democrat.
The race has implications for the balance of power on the council.
If Smith should overcome what appears to be a sizable deficit come November, it would give the Democrats a 5-2 majority, enough to override vetoes from Executive Bruce Dammeier, a Republican.
District 2 encompasses most of north-central Pierce County, from the Milton-Edgewood area south through Puyallup and into South Hill.
Herrera, a former law enforcement officer, was appointed nearly a year ago after Republican Hans Zeiger left the seat to pursue a job in the nonprofit sector.
A public school teacher by training and experience, Smith also has served as an executive board member of the Puyallup Education Association.
The winner in November would serve until December 2024 with a chance to seek re-election.
Tax measures from Tacoma to Anderson Island
Voters seemed in a generous mood Tuesday.
In Tacoma, Proposition 1 would restore the city’s EMS levy to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value amid increasing calls for service. It appeared to be on its way to victory with a 66.3 percent yes vote.
Fire districts across the county (Graham, South Pierce, Anderson Island, Gig Harbor, Riverside) also were seeking voter authorization to restore levies to previously approved levels, and all appeared likely to pass. An excess levy request by West Pierce Fire & Rescue also was above the 60 percent approval need to pass.
In Sumner, the Library Capital Facility Area was seeking approval to issue $15 million in general obligation bonds for a new library. It was seven points above the 60 percent need for approval. A proposal on Anderson Island to impose property tax levies of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for six years, beginning in 2024, to maintain and operate park and recreation facilities also had a healthy lead and seemed likely to pass.
This story was originally published August 2, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
