ELECTION: West Pierce Levy Passing; Nye And Campbell Lead In Race For City Council

The first Pierce County results from Tuesday’s primary election show a proposed replacement levy from West Pierce Fire & Rescue passing.

Results also show Chris Nye and Ken Campbell besting Carl Mollnow in the only University Place City Council race on the primary ballot.

West Pierce Fire & Rescue

The fire district – placing its between University Place and Lakewood Fire Districts earlier this year – is requesting a two-year levy of $17.9 million, which would replace the existing levy.

The latest count from the Pierce County Auditor’s Office shows the measure passing with 8,981 votes, or 66 percent, while 4,614 votes cast were against, almost 34 percent.

If results hold up, the district will use the money to pay for approximately 25 percent of its operating budget in 2012 and 2013.

University Place City Council

In the race for Position 6, newcomers and are leading for the chance to compete in the November general election.

Nye was leading the field with 2,789 votes, or 53 percent. Campbell followed with 1,549 votes, or 29 percent.

Mollnow, a perennial challenger for the University Place City Council, had 922 votes, almost 18 percent.

The candidates are vying for the position occupied by longtime City Councilman Gerald Gehring, who did not seek re-election.

At last count, only 1,474 ballots of the 84,827 ballots cast in Pierce County were uncounted. Results are next scheduled for release at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Visit University Place Patch for any updates.