Ken Balsley, Carolyn Cox advancing in Lacey City Council race

The November race for the Lacey City Council Position No. 7 seat — the seat being vacated by longtime councilman Virgil Clarkson — looks like it will be a race between the two primary candidates most closely associated with the city.

Ken Balsley, a longtime resident and city booster who was active in the city’s 50th anniversary celebration, advanced with about 35 percent of the vote, according to a first count of votes released Tuesday night.

Behind him with just more than 25 percent of the vote was Carolyn Cox, who serves on the Lacey Planning Commission.

Falling short Tuesday night were Rick Nelsen, owner of the well-known steak house Ricardo’s, with 21 percent of the vote, and Madeline Goodwin, the youngest of the four candidates at 20, who captured about 18 percent of the vote.

Cox has said that Lacey’s growth is an important issue, while Balsley has cited the need to have adequate police services to meet that growth.

More votes will be counted in the coming days. The election is set to be certified on Aug. 15.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 8:20 PM with the headline "Ken Balsley, Carolyn Cox advancing in Lacey City Council race."