PORT TOWNSEND — Candidate filings were sparse Thursday, restricted to two people seeking school board positions in Western Jefferson County and two new candidates for the Port Ludlow Fire District.
“There wasn’t much going on today,” said elections director Karen Cartmel.
“I expect we will be busier tomorrow.”
Today is the final day candidates can file for office for this year’s election.
The filing period for all offices expiring this year continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
So far, only one primary contest has shaped up. Three candidates are running for the Port Townsend City Council position now held by Laurie Medlicott, who is not running for a third term.
Retired chiropractor Pamela Adams, attorney Paul Richmond and investigator Jack Range will face off in the Aug. 16 primary, with the top two advancing to the Nov. 8 general election.
Council incumbents Kris Nelson, David King and George Randels, who serves as deputy mayor, all filed this week and are currently unopposed.
As of Thursday, 32 open positions had only one candidate file. If that holds, those candidates will be elected to another term by acclamation.
One seat, the Port Townsend School Board position now held by Bobby DuBois, has not drawn any candidates.
Candidates who have filed for other seats on the Port Townsend School Board are incumbent Anne Burkart and Pamela Daly, who is running for the seat now held by Beth Young.
Young, the longest-serving board member, declined to run for a third term.
Cartmel said there have been several inquiries about the position, but most people have asked about the district’s boundaries and have determined they do not live within those borders.
If no one files for the position by 4:30 p.m. today, the auditor will establish an extended filing period next week, most likely Wednesday though Friday, Cartmel said.
On Thursday, Suzanna Rose Kalama filed to fill a two-year unexpired term on the Queets/Clearwater School Board, and Bill Rohde filed for a position on the Quillayute Valley School board.
Both are currently unopposed.
In Port Ludlow, incumbent Bob Pontius filed for another term as a fire commissioner and is unopposed.
Another incumbent, William E. Hansen, also filed Thursday but is opposed by James Betteley, who filed Wednesday.
On Monday, Steve Tucker, a 61-year-old former Coast Guard Auxiliary operations officer and longtime boater from Port Townsend, filed for the Port of Port Townsend commissioner seat being vacated by John Collins, a seat that represents the city of Port Townsend and the North Jacob area west of the city
In Quilcene, incumbent Shoana Davis and newcomer Mary Gail Falk have filed for separate positions on the school board.
David Atkinson and Rowland Mason previously filed for the Queets/Clearwater School District.
Filing earlier this week for the Chimacum School Board were incumbent David Robocker for his District 4 seat and Kris Butler for the District 3 seat.
Incumbents Valerie Schindler, Roger Cemper and Bill Banret have filed for the Brinnon School Board, and incumbent David Dickson has filed for the Quillayute Valley School District in Forks.
Other incumbents who have filed include Richard Houts for Clallam-Jefferson County Fire District commissioner, Ronald Garrison for Brinnon Fire District commissioner, Jim Stehn for Queets Fire District commissioner, Kathy Dickson for West Jefferson County hospital commissioner and Anthony DeLeo for East Jefferson County hospital commissioner.
Two people have filed to challenge incumbent Walter Johnson on the Sequim School Board: Richard L. Fleck, 70, and Stephen Rosales, 53. Incumbents John Bridge, board president, and Sarah Bedinger both have filed for re-election.
Daniel Carlson has filed for the Brinnon Water District.
Gary Elmer and Jillian Coyle have filed for separate positions on the Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District.
Michael Hayward has filed for a position on the Coyle Water District.
Vernon Good has filed for the Paradise Bay Water District.
For an up-to-the-minute list of candidates filing for office in Jefferson County, visit http://tinyurl.com/nhow2a.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
