Stevens has decisive lead in judicial race

Challenger David Stevens appears to be the new Mason County Superior Court Judge, if early election results hold.

Stevens, Mason County senior deputy felony prosecutor, is beating his opponent, Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown, in the first ballot count after polls closed Tuesday with 6,194 votes for 57.24% to Ferguson-Brown's 4,595 votes for 42.46%.

There were also 33 write-in votes for 0.3% and 10,822 total votes in the first tabulation.

"I feel bad for her. I wish her the best," Stevens told the Journal when reached on election night. "I just felt she wasn't the right fit for the county," he said. "I look forward to taking office."

Ferguson-Brown was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the Mason County Superior Court in May 2022. She previously worked as a Mason County Superior Court commissioner from 2021-2022.