Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington Wins Second Term

HILLSBORO, OR — Kathryn Harrington edged out Beach Pace to win a second term as Washington County chair in Tuesday's primary election.

Pace, a Hillsboro city councilor, conceded the race Friday.

With 100 percent of the votes counted, Harrington had 53.21 percent of the vote compared to Pace's 45.46 percent, with 1.33 percent attributable to write-in votes, according to the county's elections board Thursday. That was a spread of about 8,000 votes. Harrington received 57,548; Pace received 49,173.

Pace thanked her supporters and said that she "will continue to aim high, work hard and care deeply" in a statment conceding the race.

Pace saw several people switch their endorsements to her from Harrington after the county released the results of an independent investigation that criticized Harrington's management style.

The report said that several employees told investigators they felt bullied by Harrington.

Campaign finance records showed that Pace also raised more than the incumbent, pulling in around $200,000. Harrington only raised about $175,000, about 75 percent of which came from her family, the records showed.

Pace is finishing out her first term on the Hillsboro City Council and chose to challenge Harrington instead of run for re-election.