Britini Port leads Wes Cornelius in Chelan County assessor general election

Wes Cornelius is running for Chelan County assessor in the Nov. 3 general election.

WES CORNELIUS

Britini Port is running for Chelan County assessor in the Nov. 3 general election.

BRITINI PORT

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CHELAN COUNTY — Britini Port held an early lead over Wes Cornelius in the race for Chelan County assessor after results were released Nov. 3.

Wes Cornelius received 11,273 votes (46.36%), while Britini Port received 13,013 (53.51%), according to results reported as of 8:33 p.m. Nov. 3.

The candidates were separated by 1,740 votes. Additional ballots remain to be counted.

Port, an independent, led the certified Aug. 4 primary with 52.9% of the vote to Republican incumbent Cornelius’ 46.9%. Both advanced to the general election.

The campaign has centered in part on whether properties of different values are being assessed equitably. Port, a real estate broker and accredited appraiser, compiled examples on FairPropertyTaxes.com that she said showed higher-priced homes being assessed at lower percentages of their market value than less expensive properties.

An independent analysis by Leavenworth civic researcher Edward Martinez examined 2,438 validated residential sales from 2024 and 2025. Martinez found that assessment ratios declined as sale prices increased, a pattern he argued warranted further examination.

Cornelius disputed that interpretation and provided Ward Media with sales comparisons, state ratio reports and explanations of individual properties. Some examples involved multiple parcels, agricultural classifications, estate transactions or other circumstances that complicated comparisons between assessments and sale prices.

Cornelius was appointed assessor in 2023 after serving as the office’s chief deputy and is seeking election to a full term. His campaign has emphasized appraisal experience, modernization and taxpayer service. Port has emphasized assessment equity, transparency and updated appraisal practices.

Cornelius was unavailable at press time.

“I’m excited and hopeful for the best,” said Port, who was in downtown Wenatchee watching election results live at an election night party hosted by legislative candidate Stacy Willoughby.

The results are unofficial. Chelan County’s next results update is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 4.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media