Dr. Paul Joos and Mary Alice Heuschel have their strategies in place to beat the other in the November general election for a seat on the Valley Medical Center Board of Commissioners.

Joos, a Renton eye surgeon, got a boost with a seven percentage point victory over Heuschel, the Renton school superintendent, in the Aug. 16 primary election.

That percentage difference hasn’t changed much since the initial tally of votes. Joos had 41.82 percent of the vote to Heuschel’s 34.34 percent after Wednesday’s count in the all-mail election.

Jim Grossnickle of Bellevue came in third, with 23.34 percent of the vote as of Wednesday. Only the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Joos and Heuschel are running for the Public Hospital District No. 1 commissioner seat held by Don Jacobson of Renton, who is retiring after serving 18 years on the board.

Joos said his showing in the primary was “surprising.” This is his first run for elective office, but he is well-known in the Renton community as a long-time eye surgeon. He has a strategy in mind to move forward; he wouldn’t offer any details.

“I just have to continue working hard,” he said, adding he’ll continue to run a clean campaign.

Heuschel has an extensive list of endorsements from community members and leaders. Joos knew of her political support.

“I was running against a political machine,” he said. “I think the political machine failed.”

Heuschel first expressed her interest publicly in early February in running for the hospital commission. She has frequently attended the commission meetings since then.

Whoever is elected to the commission also will serve as one of the 13 trustees overseeing the new alliance between Valley Medical Center and UW Medicine.

“I am happy to be continuing the journey into the general election,” Heuschel said. “The results identified that I need to get information to the voters regarding this position and why I am the best candidate.”

Her intent is to show:

• How her skills match the qualifications needed for the commissioner position

• How she can serve on the board at the same time she’s serving as the Renton School District superintendent

• Why voters should care about the commission race and then get involved.