PORT ANGELES — Five candidates for Clallam County commissioner started off the campaign season with a forum at the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday.
Incumbent Mike Chapman, a political independent from Port Angeles, is running against Democratic challengers Dale Holiday and Patti Morris, Republican Maggie Roth and independent Sandra Long in a crowded race to represent District 2, the central third of the county.
The candidates used their limited time to introduce themselves to Port Angeles business leaders and to articulate how they would govern.
Ballots will be mailed to voters July 18 for the Aug. 7 primary. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the Nov. 6 general election.
Chapman, who has served three four-year terms on the three-member Board of County Commissioners, lauded its nonpartisan approach.
“I always have said that potholes aren’t partisan,” Chapman said.
“Folks, you elect three individuals to come together to work together to find solutions together, pragmatic, middle-of-the-road positive solutions to the challenges we face.”
Long, a 10-year county resident and property owner since 1999, said she is “very committed to this county” as reflected in her service on various boards, committees and task forces.
“I’m looking forward to having Clallam County continue to be a very safe and healthy place to live,” she said.
A retired psychology professor, Long worked for 25 years as a consultant to local, state and federal governments in Shreveport, La., before moving here.
“My husband and I think this is heaven and nirvana put together,” Long said.
Long said she’d focus on law and justice, health and human services issues and promoting tourism.
Holiday, a grant coordinator and prevention specialist with the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services, cited the wind turbine at Sequim Valley Ranch and its use of biodiesel as a model for what Clallam County could be.
“I’d like to see us self-sufficient, energy-independent and ready to grow into being a true 21st century success,” Holiday said.
Holiday expressed a need for the county to partner with innovative companies such as ACTI and Battelle.
“I’m a bridge-building fiscal conservative who will never lose sight of the goal of helping to build a better, more prosperous and sustainable future,” Holiday said.
“I have the passion, the Morris said she learned a great deal about county government while serving on its Charter Review Commission.
“I believe the budget is the biggest thing facing the county,” said Morris, who moved from Tucson, Ariz., in 2001.
Morris has worked as a grant writer for the Port Angeles School District and served as president of the Clallam County Economic Development Council.
Roth is a precinct committeewoman and is on the finance committee of the county Republican Party.
She is the retired operations manager for the duty-free store she ran with her husband until it closed four years ago.
Roth has lived here for 32 years. She was Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly’s campaign manager in 2010.
“There are a lot of challenges we as the citizens and Clallam County are facing in the next four years,” Roth said.
“I think Wild Olympics is a very important issue for this county. I think WRIA (Water Resources Inventory Area) 18 is a very important issue for anybody in this county. We do not want to give up you’re property rights. Water is a right.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
