After serving in the role since 1998, Lewis County Assessor Dianne Dorey opted not to run for re-election this year. Instead, vying for her seat are Tom Crowson, of Napavine, and Ross Nielson, of Winlock.
As of the initial count from Tuesday night, Nielson led in the race after earning 11,188 of the total 21,226 votes cast, or 52.71%, while Crowson trailed at 45.16%, or 9,585.
Write-ins accounted for 453 of the votes cast.
Nielson currently works in the Assessor’s Office and is a self-proclaimed number cruncher who will aim to use his real estate valuation background to adequately assign property taxes, he said. Crowson previously served on the Lewis County Fire District 5 Board of Commissioners and centered his bid for office on lowering property taxes with the slogan, “The Taxpayer’s Choice.” He serves on the Board of Equalization.
As of Tuesday night, there were an estimated 5,554 ballots remaining to be counted in the county. The next tally was set to be released Wednesday.
