PORT ANGELES — Candidates running for elected office must file with the Clallam County Auditor’s Office by Friday to be considered for office.
The filing period begins on Monday at 8:30 a.m. It closes on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Information for prospective candidates is available on the Clallam County website, www.clallam.net, on the Auditor’s Department page.
The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 17 primary election — regardless of party affiliation or incumbency — advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
Ten county positions are open — all elected department head positions in Clallam County government, as well as those now held by Board of Commissioners Mike Doherty on the Clallam County and of Will Purser on the Clallam Public Utility District board, and two District Court judge seats.
At the federal level, Democrat Norm Dicks of Belfair, who has held the 6th Congressional District seat — which includes the North Olympic Peninsula — for 33 years, is up for reelection.
Republicans Doug Cloud and Jesse Young, both of Gig Harbor, have said they plan to challenge him.
Republican Dino Rossi of Sammamish is the most well-known of those who are challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Freeland, a three-term incumbent.
Mountlake Terrace chiropractor Sean Salazar dropped out of the race, he said Friday, to support Rossi. Don Benton of Vancouver, Wash., also dropped his bid and will support Rossi, The Seattle Times said.
At the state level, Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, is up for re-election. His colleague in the 24th District, House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, has announced that she will not run for re-election.
Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger and Port of Port Angeles Commissioner Jim McEntire have announced their intention to run for Kessler’s seat.
Tharinger, a Democrat, and McEntire, a Republican, will be joined in the race by Democrat Jack Dwyer of Montesano and Republican hopeful Larry Carter of Port Ludlow.
Van De Wege is being challenged by Port Angeles real estate broker Dan Gase and Craig Durgan of Port Ludlow, both Republicans.
The 24th District covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and portions of Grays Harbor County.
Three positions also are open on the state Supreme Court.
County offices open are:
• Assessor, held by Pam Rushton, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $691.
• Auditor, held by Patty Rosand, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $675.
• Prosecuting Attorney, held by Republican Deb Kelly, four-year term, partisan. Filing fee is $1,258.
Kelly has announced she is running for re-election. Announced challengers are attorneys Lauren Erickson, David Fox and Larry Freedman, all Democrats.
• District 3 Commissioner, held by Democrat Doherty, four-year term, partisan. Filing fee is $635.
Doherty announced on May 29 that he is running for re-election.
• Director of community development, held by John Miller, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $675.
Miller is being challenged by Alan Barnard of Re/Max Performance Team and county code compliance officer Sheila Roark Miller.
• Sheriff, held by Bill Benedict, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $864.
• Treasurer, held by Judy Scott, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $709.
Scott plans to file for re-election. Selinda Barkhuis, a senior planner with the Clallam County Department of Community Development, said last week she will challenge her for the post.
• District Court 1 judge, held by Rick Porter, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $1,417.
• District Court 2 Jjudge, held by Erik Rohrer, four-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $850.
• Clallam County Public Utility District commissioner, District 1, now held by Will Purser, six-year term, nonpartisan. Filing fee is $168.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
