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TUMWATER - Tumwater Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Pete Kmet led fellow Councilman Neil McClanahan Tuesday night in the race to be Tumwater's next mayor.
LACEY - Longtime fire commissioner Frank Kirkbride was losing in his bid for another term.
TUMWATER - School board member Rita Luce was leading challenger Bill Proffitt in early election returns Tuesday night, in the sole school board race in the Thurston County school districts.
Thurston County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela took a commanding lead over challenger Pat Beehler on Tuesday night in the Thurston County Commissioner, District 3, race.
• Patrick Beehler (Republican)
• Karen Valenzuela (Democrat, Incumbent)
Ballot drop boxes are the most secure method, short of personally delivering ballots to the Elections Division, to ensure ballots are received on time. They are open 24 hours a day for convenience and are emptied regularly by two election staff members. Boxes are opened the day ballots become available and remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Boxes are locked promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Election Night so that no further ballots may be deposited.
• Gene Dobry
• Frank Kirkbride (I)
• Pete Kmet
• Neil McClanahan
Ballots for the Nov. 3 election are available to voters and should begin appearing in mailboxes Saturday, according to the Thurston County elections office.
Thurston County Democrats are organizing volunteers to ring doorbells in support of Commissioner Karen Valenzuela's election on Saturdays and Sundays.