The final hours for candidates to file for the Aug. 7 primary and Nov. 6 general election were filled last week with new challenges for many incumbents.
But two-term 24th District Democratic state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim gets a free ride to a third two-year term: No one filed to challenge him.
Unopposed for county positions are Clallam County Superior Court Position 2 Judge George L. Wood and Position 3 Judge S. Brooke Taylor, both of Port Angeles.
In statewide elections, Democratic state Treasurer Jim McIntire of Seattle is the only incumbent unopposed.
The filing period was Monday through Friday for positions that included seats for Port Angeles-area District 2 Clallam County commissioner, Clallam County Public Utility District, Clallam County Superior Court and 24th state Legislative District 24, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Late Friday afternoon, Democrat Patti Morris of Port Angeles, a former county Charter Review Commission member, became the fourth woman to challenge three-term incumbent District 2 Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman, a former Republican who said in his filing Friday that he does not having a party preference.
Republican Maggie Roth, Democrat Dale Holiday and Sandra Long, an independent, also have filed for the county commissioner position.
Port Angeles School Board member Cindy Kelly also filed late Thursday against Clallam County Public Utility District incumbent Ted Simpson, who was first elected to the PUD board in 1985.
24th District races
Larry Carter of Port Ludlow also filed Friday as an independent to run against five-term 24th District state Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam, a Democrat.
Carter ran unsuccessfully in 2010 for the seat now held by Democrat Steve Tharinger of Sequim, the 24th District House seat vacated when former House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler retired.
Tharinger is being challenged by Republican Steve Gale of Sequim, a political newcomer and former business owner from Bothell and Gig Harbor who said Friday he moved to the North Olympic Peninsula in January.
Judge race
Chris Melly, Curtis Johnson, Erik Rohrer and William Payne, all of Port Angeles, are seeking the Clallam County Superior Court Position 1 seat held by Judge Ken Williams, who is not seeking re-election.
Ballots will be mailed to voters July 18 for the state’s top-two Aug. 7 primary.
Ballots will be mailed to voters Oct. 17 for the Nov. 6 general election.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
