Mullen winning first term on Franklin commission. Peck leading 2 challengers

After barely losing his last attempt to become a Franklin County commissioner, Rocky Mullen was defeating his challenger Wednesday by more than 20 percent.

And three-term incumbent Commissioner Brad Peck, a Republican, was leading his Democratic challenger Kim Lehrman.

The Franklin County Auditor’s Office reported it had counted about 28,000 ballots. So far the county reported a nearly 72 percent turnout, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s Office.

Mullen, a Republican, had 60.5 percent, or 16,364 votes, and Ana Ruiz Peralta had 39.4 percent, or 10,657 votes.

The Republican businessman said he was relieved with the results. He said lack of in-person events because of the COVID pandemic made it hard to tell how people would vote.

“I’m glad that the election is over, and I’m ready to start working for the people of Franklin County,” he told the Herald.

Peck, a three-term incumbent, was leading with 43.8 percent, or 11,897 votes, and Lehrman had 38 percent or 10,317 votes.

Another 18 percent went to write-in candidates. Franklin County doesn’t list all of the write-in candidates separately on election night, but the Franklin County Republican Party had endorsed write-in candidate Steve Bauman for the position.

Peck feels comfortable in his position as he waits for the second round of ballots to be counted, he said. He was pleased the majority of voters saw through a defamation campaign that was run against him.

“This time their tactic was to disrespect the will of the voters in the August primary election by running a ‘spoiler’ candidate against me in this general election,” Peck said. “They spent nearly $70,000 this election season in their attempts to take over the board of commissioners.”

His first order of business is responding to a legal challenge claiming the county is violating the Voting Rights Act of 2018. And it may mean drawing new district lines in the county.

He says it’s something he’s been pushing for change on for years, but efforts have been stymied by the same political activists that attacked him during the campaign, he said.

Lehrman continued Wednesday to be cautiously optimistic about the results saying that a lot of ballots remain to be counted.

“The foundation of hope is building and growing in our county,” she said. “That hope is including all voices in our county and having a more transparent and collaborative Franklin County government.”

Lehrman was particularly critical of Peck’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mullen, Peralta

Rocky Mullen was the chosen successor of outgoing Franklin County Commissioner Bob Koch. Mullen lost the spot four years ago by seven votes.

He has spent the past four years attending commissioner meetings and preparing for the position.

Mullen was looking for the county to move faster toward opening again after the closures caused by COVID-19.

Ruiz Peralta, a Democrat and community leader, wanted the commissioners to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and she billed herself as a collaborator and bridge-builder.

She could not be reached Wednesday about the election results.

This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 9:02 PM.