PORT ANGELES — Jim Hallett, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce president and former Port Angeles mayor, filed Wednesday to run for the District No. 2 position on the countywide Port of Port Angeles commission.
Hallett, 56, said he spoke with current District 2 Commissioner George Schoenfeldt on Tuesday evening before making his decision to run.
“He said he was likely not going to run if he felt somebody would file who would continue the work he’s done,” said Hallett, who described Schoenfeldt as a “nice gentleman” and a “fine person.”
“If I can continue to build on the work he’s done — and his colleagues have done — that’s great.
“That’s where I want to come in.”
Schoenfeldt could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Schoenfeldt took office in 2006 for a term that expires at the end of this year.
The filing period continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Friday at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles and the Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend.
Hallett had no challenger as of Wednesday evening.
If elected, Hallett said he would help build on the port’s successes and help to address its challenges.
He described the port’s challenges as the same facing many communities:
“How to maintain our economic livelihood and how to compete regionally and globally for opportunities that could come our way or that maybe should come our way,” Hallett said.
Hallett owns Hallett & Associates, an investment advisory firm based in
Port Angeles.
He was a board member on the Harbor-Works Development Authority, which was formed by the Port Angeles City Council in May 2008 to acquire and redevelop Rayonier Inc.’s former mill site on the Port Angeles waterfront.
It was dissolved in October after Rayonier said it would not negotiate with it.
Besides serving as Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce president, Hallett is active on local church and service club boards.
Meanwhile, Linda Barnfather has officially entered the race for Clallam County commissioner.
Barnfather, 48, announced Monday that she would file Wednesday. The Sequim Democrat filed Wednesday at 9:16 a.m.
Barnfather will face Jim McEntire, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner from Sequim, in the race for the county commissioner District 1 position being vacated by state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, who will not run for a third term.
McEntire, 60, a Republican, filed Monday.
Barnfather is a legislative assistant to the other 24th District state representative, Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim.
The 24th District covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
As of Wednesday evening, five Clallam County race were being contested.
Only one — Position 5 on the Sequim School Board — was being contested by more than two candidates.
Those vying for the school board seat are incumbent Walter Johnson, Richard L. Fleck and Stephen Rosales.
If more than two candidates file for a position, they will square off in the Aug. 16 primary, with the top two advancing to the Nov. 8 general election — regardless of party preference in partisan races.
Primary ballots will be mailed to voters July 27.
Races with only two candidates skip the primary and move on to the general election.
There are two head-to-head races for the Port Angeles City Council and one head-to-head race for the Sequim City Council.
Drew Schwab filed Monday to run against Port Angeles City Councilman Brad Collins.
Sissi Bruch filed Tuesday to run against incumbent Port Angeles City Council Deputy Mayor Don Perry.
On the Sequim City Council, Ron Fairclough filed Tuesday to challenge incumbent Laura J. Dubois.
The list of open positions in Clallam County and information for potential candidates is at http://tinyurl.com/25omebk.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
