Smooth primary

Mason County Commissioner Sharon Trask, a Republican, will face Democrat and Shelton City Council member Miguel Gutierrez in the

Nov. 8 general election, while Democrat Sandy Kaiser and Republican Travis Couture will compete to replace Drew MacEwen representing District 35, Position 2, in the state House of Representatives.

Those are among the initial results of Tuesday’s primary election. The results of the second ballot count were scheduled to be released at 4 p.m. Wednesday, after the Journal went to press. For updates, go to the Journal’s website.

The initial voter turnout was 33.84%, and Mason County Auditor Paddy McGuire estimates final turnout will be 41% or 42%. On Tuesday evening, he estimated his office will have about 3,000 more ballots to count that came in that day and will in the following days.

“I think this went very smoothly,” he said Tuesday evening. “We’re always happy when that happens.”