PORT ANGELES — The five-day candidate filing week continued Tuesday with four-term Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty still on the fence but other incumbents filing their paperwork.
Those who did file included the North Olympic Peninsula’s two 24th District state representatives, Democrats Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege, both of Sequim.
Doherty, a Port Angeles Democrat who represents West End District 3, said Tuesday he probably will not decide whether he will seek a fifth term until the Friday filing deadline.
“I’ve been talking to two or three folks I think would be good candidates and good public servants,” he said.
“I haven’t made up my mind absolutely, but I am heading in one direction.”
Port Angeles City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch, a Democrat, and Bill Peach, a Republican, filed for Doherty’s position Monday.
Bruch has said she will withdraw her name if Doherty runs.
Online and in-person filing for 34 positions in Clallam County ends Friday.
If more than two people file for a position, they will square off in the Aug. 5 primary, ballots for which are mailed to registered voters July 16.
Port Angeles-area District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter filed for re-election Tuesday to the nonpartisan position.
Several candidates also filed Tuesday for 15 available seats on the nonpartisan county Charter Review Commission, a one-year position.
The top five vote-getters in each of the county’s three county commissioner districts will automatically be seated on the commission in the Nov. 4 general election.
Filing for the commission Tuesday was Jon Alan Kirshbaum for a Sequim-area District 1 seat.
District 1 candidates who filed Monday were Nola Judd, Anita Ready, Ted Miller, Sue Forde and Brandon Janisse.
Port Angeles-area District 2 candidates who filed Tuesday for commission seats were Maggie Roth, Kaj Ahlburg, Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin, Stephanie
Noblin, Judi Hangartner and Norma Turner.
John Merton Marrs filed Tuesday for a West End District 3 seat on the commission.
Andrew May, who is a Peninsula Daily News columnist; Connie Beauvais; and William White also filed for District 3 seats on the charter commission.
Several incumbents submitted their paperwork to seek re-election, including Port Angeles native and 6th Congressional District Rep. Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor.
Filing Monday to run for the position held by Kilmer, whose district includes Clallam and Jefferson counties, was W. “Greybeard” McPherson of Port Angeles, who stated no party preference but voted for the Green Party.
Clallam County incumbents who filed Monday for nonpartisan countywide offices included Director of Community Development Sheila Roark Miller, who drew opponent Mary Ellen Winborn, who filed Monday.
Sheriff Bill Benedict, Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis, Assessor Pam Rushton, Superior Court Judge Chris Melly and Clallam County Public Utility District
Commissioner Hugh Haffner also filed for their respective offices.
All are incumbents running for nonpartisan positions.
Prosecuting Attorney William Payne, appointed earlier this year, filed as a Republican for the partisan position.
Forks-area District Court 2 Judge John Doherty of Beaver, who also was appointed to his nonpartisan position, also filed as a candidate.
Candidates include Clallam County Elections Supervisor Shoona Riggs, who filed Monday and is running for retiring county Auditor Patty Rosand’s nonpartisan position.
Incumbent Position 3 state Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst also filed for re-election, as did incumbents Position 4 state Supreme Court Justice Charles Johnson and Position 7 Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens.
Challenger Eddie Yoon filed for Johnson’s position.
Mary Yu, appointed May 1 to Supreme Court Justice Position 1, also filed for the election.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Lisa Sutton also filed for state Court of Appeals, Division 2, District 2 judge.
The judge positions are nonpartisan.
The state Supreme Court and Appeals Court candidates filed Monday.
The North Olympic Peninsula Primary Election Guide, prepared and published by the Peninsula Daily News, will appear in print and online July 18.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
