County Commission race a barn burner

With around 500 votes yet to be counted, former Thurston County deputy and Tenino Police Chief John Hutchings has a 46 vote lead for the second slot on the Thurston County Commission One seat for the  General Election.   He is beating his challenger Allen Miller by the narrowest of margins.

However, current Olympia Councilmember Jim Cooper has the top spot with more than a 3000 vote lead over Hutchings.

The Thurston County Canvasing Board will meet today to review the election results and will meet again on August 16 to certify the election as final.   If the results hold up, Cooper will face Hutchings in the General Election.

In the race for the Second District county commission seat, former Thurston County Sheriff Gary Edwards has a 3000 vote lead over his challenger Kelsey Hulse.  Both will advance to the General Election.

Running countwide could help both Hutchings and Hulse gain ground on their opponents.   Hutching won the econd spot in a very liberal district.   Running countywide could give him the opportunity to pick up the more conservative votes in the Eastern section of the county.   Hulse ran in that more conservative side of the county.   Running countywide could give her the ability to pick up the more liberal votes from the Western section of the county.