Not over 'til it's over: Columbia County commissioner race likely heading to a November runoff

Columbia County Commission candidates Margaret Magruder and Alex Tardif are headed to a probable runoff election this November, but it’s not the first time the Columbia County Commission has faced a runoff.

Neither Magruder nor Tardif captured the majority of the votes, which would have granted the winner the Position 1 seat outright. In results as of Wednesday morning, May 22, Magruder was grabbing 48% of the vote, Alex Tardif registering 39.6% with Brian Brust trailing at 12% support.

Magruder is seeking a third term on the county board, leading in the election so far, said she will continue to follow through on her commissioner duties while awaiting the November runoff.

“I was pleased that I was on the top of the heap,” Magruder said of the preliminary results. “I wish that I could have gotten the 50%, plus one vote, so that we could end the cycle … But we will move on forward and hope that we can get to the top of the pile in November and do all the work that needs to be done between now and then.”

Magruder added, “I am looking forward to serving another term, so I am hoping I can make it over the finish line.”

Tardif, who is executive director of the Columbia Pacific Food Bank and former Columbia County commissioner, is also looking forward to the challenge.

“Assuming that we are heading to the general election, I’m excited to continue to campaign and to meet additional community members and continue to give them a voice,” he said.

According to the Columbia County Elections office, “A candidate for office will be elected at the primary election if the candidate receives a majority of the votes cast (at least 50% plus one vote). If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two vote getters move forward to the general election.”

Casey Garrett ran unopposed for Position 3 on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.

In May 2020, Tardif and Garrett faced a similar runoff election challenge. Garrett, as challenger, led the race for Position 3 by 43.2% and incumbent Tardif had 40.8% of the vote, forcing the two to face off again in November 2020. Garrett clinched the seat with 52% of the vote that November.

In May of 2018, Henry Heimuller and Paulette Lichatowich faced a similar runoff, but Lichatowich withdrew her name from the ballot before the election, leaving Heimuller unchallenged.