By CHARLIE BERMANT
Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Wendy Davis, former deputy police chief of Poulsbo, narrowly lost her bid to become sheriff of Jefferson County in the Nov. 4 general election.
Updated election results Nov. 7 showed Davis with 7,198 votes, or 48.63 percent, to David Stanko’s 7,480 votes, or 50.54 percent.
Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge called the race, saying there are not enough outstanding ballots to change the outcome.
“This is cause for celebration, but is also rather sobering,” Stanko said of his victory. “Running this department will require all of my experience and wisdom, and I will need help from everyone around me.”
Davis thanked her supporters in an emailed statement.
“We knew it would be tough for many voters to accept a woman as their next sheriff,” she wrote. “I wish my opponent the best of luck in his new job and look forward to him implementing many of the changes that are needed here in Jefferson County.
“I will continue to advocate for mental health crisis intervention training for all law enforcement in Jefferson County and will be involved in community efforts to support this critical need.”
Stanko thanked Davis “for running a spirited campaign based on the issues.”
“The democratic process works well,” Stanko said. “Our elections are won by genuine people who work hard, and I’m grateful for all the support I received during the campaign.”
Stanko will succeed Tony Hernandez, who resigned to serve as police chief in Milton near Tacoma.
Davis, 47, lives in Port Ludlow and is human resources manager for Port Ludlow Associates. She served in the Bremerton Police Department as a sergeant and also in the Poulsbo Police Department, first as deputy chief and then as a sergeant. She left the Poulsbo Police Department in April 2013. She also served on the Kitsap County Fair Board.
Stanko, 66, retired in 2004 from the Fullerton, California, Police Department. He is an active volunteer who was named 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
