Tarzwell leading Beben in commission race

In the initial general election ballot count on Tuesday evening, Republican Pat Tarzwell was leading Tom Beben, who states no party preference, in their contest for a four-year term representing District 2 on the Mason County Commission.

In the first ballot count released at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Tarzwell had 14,320 votes for 53.31% and Beben 12,963 votes for 47.36%.

Tarzwell ran a small manufacturing business for 33 years. Beben owns the High Steel Beer Co.

“It’s not over yet, but it looks pretty darn good,” Tarzwell told the Journal on Wednesday morning.

“We had a pretty amicable race — there was no mudslinging or vitriol,” he said.

This was the first run for office for Tarzwell. He said he has campaigned for others over the years but going door-to-door to introduce himself was a completely different experience, he said.

Tarzwell said he plans to meet again with county department heads. “I want to put my feet on the ground and get going,” he said.

In response to questions sent by the Journal, Beben on Wednesday morning wrote of the initial results “I’m a little disheartened but I am eternally grateful for every single vote I received. I can only hope that we grow together as a county and that there is a substantive change in the next four years.”

As for the campaign, Beben wrote, “I’m proud of the work we did and even more proud to have such a supportive wife and partner who managed the campaign in the midst of everything else she does. I’m more invested now than ever in making a difference in Mason County. Public service is my calling and I’ll continue to work to find a way to fill the needs of the community around me.”

Beben wrote that he’ll continue to try to bring back the Mason County Fairgrounds.