The 1996 Pierce County Executive election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican County Executive Doug Sutherland ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by County Councilman Wendell Brown, a Democrat and his opponent from 1992.
On election night, Brown held a narrow lead over Sutherland, but when absentee votes were tallied later in the week, Sutherland took the lead. Sutherland ultimately defeated Brown by a narrow, 2,216-vote margin, winning 47 percent of the vote to Brown's 46 percent, with perennial candidate Dale Washam, an independent, receiving 8 percent of the vote.
Primary election Candidates Doug Sutherland, incumbent County Executive (Republican) Wendell Brown, County Councilman, 1992 candidate for County Executive (Democratic) Gary Smith, County Sheriff's Department Captain (Democratic) Dale Washam, perennial candidate (independent)
Results
General election Results
References