Glenn T. Clemens was well on his way to becoming the new fire commissioner in Position 3 for Port Ludlow Fire Protection District No. 3.

Clemens, the challenger in the race, had 60 percent of the vote in the initial vote tally on Election Night.

Ron Helmonds, the incumbent, had 39 percent.

In the vote breakdown, Clemens had 910 votes to Helmonds’ 602, a gap of 308 between the two candidates.

A total of 1,512 ballots from voters in the fire district were counted Tuesday night.

Clemens, 65, has long roots in Jefferson County but is a political newcomer. He’s lived in the county for more than 30 years, and retired as a captain after a career in the maritime industry.

His prior experience with the fire service includes time as a volunteer firefighter in Oregon.

The third try was not the charm for Helmonds, who has been on the fire board since his appointment in 2008. Since then, he’s been re-elected twice to the Position 3 seat on the three-member board.

A 17-year resident of Port Ludlow, Helmonds, 68, is a retired businessman who once owned a chain of furniture stores in the San Fransisco Bay area.

Clemens and Helmonds were the top two choices from voters during the three-way race in August's Primary Election.

Clemens was the winner then, with 36.13 percent of the vote.

Helmonds, however, was close behind with 35.78 of all ballots cast.

The third candidate, Mike Feely, finished with 27 percent of the vote.