Clallam County Commissioner Doherty, challenger among those to file for election

PORT ANGELES — Candidates continued filing for the fall election on Tuesday — including incumbent Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty of Port Angeles, a Democrat and a challenger, Republican Robin V. Poole of Beaver.

Doherty, is a three-term county commissioner who represents the West End.

Poole, who filed late Tuesday afternoon, did not return calls for comment.

Every four-year elective office in Clallam County government is up for election except two county commissioner positions, and one six-year seat on the Clallam County Public Utility District board also is up for grabs.

Voting is countywide for the county government and PUD positions.

In addition to Doherty and Poole, the following candidates filed Monday and Tuesday for Clallam County, state legislative district, congressional district and statewide elective positions:

U.S. Senate:

Incumbent Patty Murray, D-Freeland, filed for re-election, as did Democrat Mike The Mover of Mill Creek, and a Seattle Democrat who goes by the name of Goodspaceguy.

Also filing for Murray’s Senate seat were Republican Norma D. Gruber of Walla Walla, Republican William Edward Chovil of Tacoma, independent Schalk Leonard of Poulsbo and independent James “Skip” Mercer of Bellevue.

State Supreme Court:

Incumbent Chief Justice Barbara Madsen of Seattle filed for re-election for her Position No. 5 seat on Tuesday, as did incumbent Justice Richard B. Sanders of Olympia for his Position No. 6 seat. Charlie Wiggins of Bainbridge Island filed on Monday to challenge Sanders.

Congress:

Democrat Norm Dicks of Belfair, a 16-term incumbent, is being challenged by Republican lawyer Doug Cloud of Tacoma and Republican software engineer Jesse Young of Tacoma, who filed Tuesday.

24th District state representative:

For Position No. 1, two-term incumbent Democrat Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim is being challenged by Port Ludlow Republican business owner and retired maritime engineer Craig Durgan of Port Ludlow and Republican real estate broker Dan Gase of Port Angeles, who filed Tuesday.

For Position No. 2, Republican Jim McEntire of Sequim, a retired Coast Guard captain, and Republican Larry Carter of Port Ludlow are vying for a seat being vacated by the retiring Rep. Lynn Kessler, a Hoquiam Democrat.

Clallam County:

Incumbent Republican Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly of Port Angeles is running against Democrat Larry Freedman of Sequim and Democrat Lauren Erickson of Port Angeles, a former member of the City Council who filed for the position on Tuesday.

Filing on Monday and Tuesday and remaining unchallenged, were incumbent Sheriff Bill Benedict of Sequim, incumbent District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter of Port Angeles, incumbent county Auditor Patty Rosand of Port Angeles and incumbent District Court 2 Judge Erik Rohrer of Forks.

Department of Community Development Senior Planner Selinda Barkhuis, who filed Monday for the county Treasurer position occupied by incumbent Judy Scott, remained the lone candidate for the position.

Clallam County Public Utility District:

Incumbent Will Purser of Sequim, who filed for re-election Monday, remained the lone candidate for Position No. 1.

Candidates can file through Friday at the elections office in the basement of the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In races in which there are more than two candidates, the top two winners — regardless of party affiliation or incumbency — who survive the Aug. 17 primary advance to the Nov. 2 general election.

If only two candidates file for any position by 4:30 p.m. Friday, both automatically advance to the November election.

Filings are posted online through the state Secretary of State’s Office at www.clallam.net.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.

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