PORT TOWNSEND — Those filing for open seats in this year’s election have a choice as to how they receive the documents necessary to manage their candidacy.
After filing, candidates can receive a folder that contains the documents and disclosure forms, or they can opt to receive a USB drive that contains all of the documents in PDF format.
“This is part of our going paperless,” said Betty Johnson, Jefferson County elections supervisor.
“We are providing all of the documents in electronic format, which we think will be more convenient for the candidates.”
After a suggestion from Sandi Eldridge, the office ordered 50 of the drives on which 20 documents were installed, including campaign sign regulations, withdrawal forms and financial disclosure forms if needed.
The cost of the drives was $194, which Johnson said represented an undetermined savings over the cost and process of assembling printed folders, which are still available for those who request them.
The drives have a 128 MB capacity, of which the documents take up only 4 MB.
As of Tuesday, 10 of the 17 candidates filing in the office had opted for the electronic format, Johnson said.
Filing continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all week, with a drawing to determine ballot positions scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Candidates file at the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St.
If more than two candidates file for one office, one candidate will be eliminated in the Aug. 4 primary, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
All of this year’s elections are nonpartisan contests.
Filing Tuesday were:
■ Brinnon School Board incumbents Joe Baisch, Position 3, and Bill Barnet, Position 4, each for an additional term.
■ Port Ludlow Fire District incumbent Ron Helmonds, who filed for another four-year term in Position 3.
■ Lowell P. McQuoid, Position 5, who filed for another six-year term on the Forks Fire Commission.
■ Rebecca Bratsman Meyer, who filed for the District 1 position on the Sequim School Board.
Although most of the district is in Clallam County, 283 registered voters in the district live in Gardiner in East Jefferson County.
On Monday, Robin Henrikson and Willard Naslund filed to succeed Heather Jeffers in that position.
Three candidates are vying for the director at-large position. Heather Short, William Payne and Charles Meyer have filed for the seat now held by Walter Johnson.
■ Four seats are open on the Port Townsend City Council.
Incumbents Bob Gray, Position 4, and Deborah Stinson, Position 3, each filed for a second four-year term Monday.
Mayor David King, Position 6, and Deputy Mayor Kris Nelson, Position 7, are retiring.
Paul Rice filed for King’s seat Monday.
There are two hopefuls for Nelson’s seat: attorney David Faber and Port of Port Townsend maintenance worker Travis Keena.
■ Incumbent Port of Port Townsend Position 1 Commissioner Steve Tucker has filed for a second four-year term.
■ Incumbent Jefferson Healthcare Commissioners Mari Dressler and Chuck Russell each have filed for another six-year term.
■ Keith White, who was appointed to the Port Townsend School District Position 5 earlier this year, has filed for a four-year elected term.
■ Maggie Ejde, who was appointed to the Chimacum School Board, is running for a four-year elected term to Position 3.
■ Incumbent Ron Stephens seeks another four-year term in Brinnon School District Position 3.
■ Position 4 Quilcene School Board member Gena Lont and Position 1’s Shona Davis, both incumbents, each seek another four-year term.
■ Quilcene School Board incumbents Gena Lont, Position 4, and Shona Davis, Position 1, each seek another four-year term.
■ Brinnon Water District Position 3 Commissioner Wayne Schlaefli seeks another six-year term.
■ In the Quillayute Valley School District, incumbent board member Bill Rohde seeks another four-year term.
This district straddles Clallam County and has 143 registered voters in Jefferson County.
■ In the Queets/Clearwater School District, incumbents David Atkinson, Position 3, and Rowland Mason, Position 4, each seek another six-year term.
■ Incumbent Rich Stapf Jr., the chairman of the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue board, seeks another six-year term.
■ Clallam-Jefferson Fire Protection District’s G. Michael Gawley seeks another six-year term in Position 1.
For a complete list of all candidates who have filed, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-filing.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
