1996 Pierce County Executive election
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County Executive before election Elected County Executive | |||||||||||||||||||||
The 1996 Pierce County Executive election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican County Executive Doug Sutherland ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by County Councilman Wendell Brown, a Democrat and his opponent from 1992.
On election night, Brown held a narrow lead over Sutherland,[1] but when absentee votes were tallied later in the week, Sutherland took the lead.[2] Sutherland ultimately defeated Brown by a narrow, 2,216-vote margin, winning 47 percent of the vote to Brown's 46 percent, with perennial candidate Dale Washam, an independent, receiving 8 percent of the vote.[3]
Primary election
[edit ]Candidates
[edit ]- Doug Sutherland, incumbent County Executive (Republican)[4]
- Wendell Brown, County Councilman, 1992 candidate for County Executive (Democratic)[5]
- Gary Smith, County Sheriff's Department Captain (Democratic)[6]
- Dale Washam, perennial candidate (independent)[7]
Results
[edit ]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland | 57,803 | 41.59% | |
| Democratic | Wendell Brown | 45,916 | 33.04% | |
| Democratic | Gary L. Smith | 26,563 | 19.11% | |
| Independent | Dale Washam | 8,551 | 6.15% | |
| Write-in | 26 | 0.04% | ||
| Total votes | 138,991 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit ]Results
[edit ]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland (inc.) | 105,891 | 46.59% | |
| Democratic | Wendell Brown | 103,675 | 45.61% | |
| Independent | Dale Washam | 26,563 | 19.11% | |
| Write-in | 158 | 0.11% | ||
| Total votes | 227,291 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
[edit ]- ^ Kremer, Lisa (November 6, 1996). "County exec cliffhanger: Brown holds the early lead - but it was that way in '92, too". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Kremer, Lisa (November 9, 1996). "Absentee votes spark comebacks: County Executive Sutherland up 621 on Brown". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Kremer, Lisa (November 21, 1996). "Sutherland over the top in Pierce executive race". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Rushton, Bruce (September 22, 1995). "Governor? No thanks: Sutherland, McDonald won't join race". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Rushton, Bruce (May 17, 1996). "Brown plans 2nd run for county exec". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Rushton, Bruce (January 1, 1996). "Sheriff's captain challenges Sutherland". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "Puyallup man claims GOP stole 'contract'". The Olympian . Olympia, Washington. September 5, 1996. p. C4. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "PIERCE COUNTY - Primary - 9/17/96 - Official Results". Pierce County Auditor. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "PIERCE COUNTY - OFFICIAL RESULTS - 11-5-96". Pierce County Auditor. Retrieved July 26, 2025.