Budrow wins sheriff, Neal new commissioner in final election results

OKANOGAN – The final ballot count from the Nov. 8 General Election released by county auditor’s office shows Paul Budrow winning the race for Okanogan County Sheriff over incumbent Anthony Hawley by a margin of 686 votes or 52.29 percent.

What started as the only close race in the post-election counts saw Budrow come from 23 votes down in the initial count to a growing lead as the successive counts were conducted.

Jon R. Neal defeated Lloyd Caton by 484 votes to become the new Okanogan County Commissioner for District 3 replacing Jim DeTro.

Incumbent Okanogan County Public Utility Commissioner Jerry D. Asmussen retains his District 3 seat by 2,968 votes over challenger Joseph H. Enzensperger.

Incumbent coroner David Rodriguez held off challenger Rojean (Jeannie) Hughes by 4,229 votes to easily retain his office.

The other local candidate races saw unopposed incumbents re-elected for another term.

Douglas County

Incumbent Aaron “Owen” Viebrock won reelection to his seat as District 3 Douglas County Public Utility Commissioner over challenger Randy Agnew by 68 percent to 31 percent.

The City of Bridgeport Proposition 1 was handily approved by 76 percent of voters. Last June the city council approved the measure calling for a .3 percent increase in the city sales tax from 7.7 percent to 8 percent. The funds generated by the increase will be earmarked to purchase a replacement fire truck for the city when that becomes necessary.