PORT TOWNSEND — Fifty-four candidates filed in Jefferson County, which has 48 offices open, last week.
The weeklong filing period ended Friday.
There are eight contested races and four offices with no filings.
A primary will be held on Aug. 18 to narrow the field for two positions on the Port of Port Townsend commission.
The top two candidates in the runoff advance to the general election on Nov. 3.
The port candidates are:
• Port of Port Townsend District 2 — Incumbent Dave Thompson, 66 of Port Townsend, is challenged by Bob Schuessler, 66 of Port Hadlock, and David Whipple, 48 of Port Townsend.
• Port of Port Townsend District 3 — Incumbent Herb Beck, 71 of Quilcene, is challenged by Douglas Breithaupt, 51 of Port Townsend and Leif Erickson, 58 of Port Ludlow.
The other contested races each have two candidates running.
No candidates filed for four positions. An extended filing period will take place from Wednesday through Friday for the following positions:
• Queets/Clearwater School Board, District 2.
• Forks Fire District, Position 3.
• Water District 3, Position 3
• Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District, Position 1.
Candidates can file in the Auditor’s Office in the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
The office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Other contested races
Positions with two candidates running in the general election:
• Incumbent Virginia O’Neil faces challenger Jon Kirshbaum to keep her seat on the Sequim School Board. Both are from Sequim. The district is in both Clallam and Jefferson counties.
• Incumbert Lyle Pfeifle of Forks is challenged for seat as director of District 1 for Queets/Clearwater School District No. 20 by Sandra Wells-Kalama of Forks.
• Both Mike Porter and Ronald Helmonds have filed for Port Ludlow Fire District, Position 3. Both live in Port Ludlow.
• Mike Eastman is challenging incumbent Ken McEdwards for the Brinnon Fire District, Position 2. Both are from Brinnon.
• Mari Dressler of Port Townsend is challenging incumbent Kathy Hill of Port Townsend for her spot on the board of East Jefferson County Hospital District No. 2, for Jefferson Healthcare hospital.
• Ford Kessler of Port Townsend and Herb Cook of Sequim have both filed for the Gardiner Fire District position currently held by George Eims. Eims did not file.
Candidates running unopposed
• Sheriff Tony Hernandez of Port Ludlow, who was appointed in March after the Mike Brasfield retired. Hernandez is running to fill the remainder of Brasfield’s current term, which runs into 2010.
• Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval and City Council members Catharine Robinson and Mark Welch. Kris Nelson, who was appointed to council Monday night, filed to fill the remainder of Brent Butler’s term, which expires in 2011.
• Chimacum School Board members Ted Friedrich and Cammy Brown.
• Kevin Miller of Nordlan, Chimacum School Board, District 5.
• Brian Pederson of Forks, District 4 on the Quillayute Valley School Board, for the seat now held by Sharon Penn. Penn did not file
• Rick Gale of Forks, District 3 on the Quillayute Valley School Board.
• In Port Townsend School District No. 50, Holley Carlson, who is running for the position held by John Eissinger, and Jennifer James-Wilson, who is running for the position held by Rita Bebee, have filed. The incumbents did not.
• Valerie Schindler, Brinnon School Board, District 1.
• Bill Barnet, Brinnon School Board, District 4.
• Diane Bressler will now run unopposed for the two-year unexpired term of the Brinnon School Board, District 3 position on the Brinnon School Board. Wendy Ryan-Hogan withdrew her candidacy on Friday.
• Instead, Ryan-Hogan filed for the four-year District 5 position on the Brinnon School Board.
• John Bridge, Sequim School Board, District 3 position (Clallam and Jefferson counties).
• Beverly Horan, Sequim School Board, at large position (Clallam and Jefferson counties).
• Gary Rae, Quilcene School District, District 2.
• Bonnie Hitt, Quilcene School Board, District 5 at large.
• Wilson “Sandy” Wells of Forks, Queets/Clearwater School District No. 5, Forks.
• Incumbents Richard A Stapf Jr. and Jess Bondurant Jr. have filed for re-election on the Chimacum/Cape George Fire District board.
• Linda L. Hanel, Gardiner Fire District No. 5, Position 1.
• Cal White, Paradise Bay Water District No. 1, Position 1.
• Dennis Schmitt of Quilcene, Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District, Position No. 2.
• Incumbent Larry Robinson, Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District, Position No. 3.
• Incumbent Richard A. Hull, Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District, Position No. 5.
• L. Scott Loring and Myrtle Corey filed for their current positions on the board of Cemetery District No. 1 (Brinnon).
• Diane (Movius) Martin of Sequim has filed for her current position on the board of Cemetery District No. 3 (Gardiner).
• Marjorie Schafer, Quilcene Cemetery District.
• Michael K. Whittaker of Quilcene, Quilcene Fire District.
• Wayne Schlaefli has filed for his current position on the board of Water District No. 2 (Brinnon).
• Carol Jean Young has filed for her current position on the board of Public Hospital District No. 1, Forks Community Hospital.
• Chuck Russell has filed for his current position on East Jefferson County Hospital District No. 2, Jefferson Healthcare hospital.
For more information, visit the county Web site at http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/jefferson /Pages/CandidateFilings.aspx.
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Jefferson County reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
