As the first batch of election results started showing up Tuesday evening at The Grange in Silverdale, where local Democrats had gathered to observe the numbers, Kitsap County Commissioner incumbent Chris Endresen (D-Poulsbo) watched with joy as the majority of the votes started to go in her favor.

And by the end of the night, she had clinched her third term with 47,844 votes or 52 percent of Kitsap County ballots. Her challenger, businessman Scott Henden (R-Kingston), earned 43,452 votes or 48 percent.

The results were practically a repeat of the duo’s 2000 race, when both faced off for the same seat. Endresen earned 53 percent while Henden received 46 percent of the vote.

Endresen said she would like to think she was reelected again because of her track record.

“I do a good job. I work hard and I’m honest,” she said.

One factor she believes that helped her to victory was her determination to run a positive campaign from her camp.

Endresen said she received a number of calls and e-mails from residents who were unhappy about the negative campaigning that was taking place, she said.

“I ran it on a positive campaign and I spoke to the issues and ran it on that,” she explained.

It will be smooth sailing into her third term, as Endresen has some major projects already lined up for the North End to improve traffic patterns, development and create more parks for the community.

She hopes the county will be able to acquire Forbes Landing in Hansville, which will provide more public waterfront access. In 2005-2006, traffic improvements to Miller Bay Road at the Indianola and Gunderson Road intersections are expected to take place. Research and study for the second phase of the Kingston Sub-Area Plan is already underway and updates to the Suquamish community plan are forthcoming in the near future. She is already deep into putting together the 2005 county budget with fellow commissioners Patty Lent and the newly re-elected Jan Angel.

As for changing her strategies for her third term, Endresen said she will continue with what has helped her to be successful in the past — partnerships.

“I’m always to looking for new ways to do things and new partnerships, so I’ve always kind of got my antenna up for creative partnerships,” she said. “We’ll see what comes up.”

Henden did not return any of the Herald’s phone calls for comment as of press time on Friday.