Letter: Don’t trust AI for elected office race analysis

🎧 Don’t Trust AI for Clark County Election Research

Dick Rylander says when it comes to who controls what’s fed to AI, it’s ‘garbage/tainted information in garbage out’

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

It’s late July 2026 and the primary election closes on Aug. 4. If people haven’t already voted they may be scouring the internet for information on races and candidates. It appears many people accept what the AI search tells them.

Dick Rylander

I’m here today to suggest that you NOT accept any AI “facts and information” as accurate and true without doing additional research. Why double check you ask?

Here are a couple of examples in local races (Clark County WA) where ChatGPT made significant errors and, when challenged, apologized and offered different information going so far as to offer two answers and ask which I preferred (does that make me an AI fact checker?)

County Auditor Race – ChatGPT didn’t show Eileen Quiring O’Brien as a candidate at all. It said Mitchell Kelly, Sharon Wylie, Ty Stober, and Daniel Herrera were the candidates. I challenged that Mr. Herrera was not on the ballot and that Eileen was. AI response: You are right to raise Eileen Quiring O’Brien — my earlier projection was incomplete because I omitted a major candidate. That materially changes the Clark County Auditor race. The official primary ballot lists Mitchell Kelly and Eileen Quiring O’Brien as the two candidates for County Auditor. With Quiring-O’Brien included, the race looks much more like a two-way contest rather than a Kelly runaway.

County Assessors Race – Again, ChatGPT (to be consistent) said the candidates are: Tyler Thune; Judy Joe and Tamarica Washington. It said that Peter Van Nortwick was NOT running for re-election which is FALSE. I challenged the information and here’s what the AI said: you’re correct. My previous answer was inaccurate. The 2026 Clark County Assessor race is between incumbent Peter Van Nortwick and Chief Deputy Assessor Tyler Thoune. Peter Van Nortwick has served as Clark County Assessor since first being elected in 2010, while Thoune has worked in the Assessor’s Office for many years and serves as the office’s chief deputy. This race is unusual because it is essentially a contest between: The elected incumbent (Van Nortwick), and His top deputy and potential successor (Thoune).

Finally: Clark County District 5 County Council race. I took the opportunity to ask ChatGPT to compare Peter Silliman and Troy McCoy. ChatGPT said Troy is a Republican. I responded that the Democrats have endorsed Troy. It responded and apologized noting that the Dem’s have indeed endorsed Troy. I then looked at a number of issues/topics to determine accuracy. It kept circling back to similarities rather than differences. It did note that Peter may be a better choice for policy and government reform.

There may be more races locally or across the nation that contain false or partially correct information that could impact voting decisions. Check multiple sources and talk with people you know and trust to get their input.

Who controls what’s fed to AI’s? Garbage/tainted information in garbage out.

Dick Rylander
Battle Ground