The fall election season officially began Monday as Jefferson County candidates opened the five-day filing week.
Several incumbents were among the first to file at the auditor’s office in the county courthouse to keep their jobs, and most had no opponent at the end of the first filing day Monday.
Incumbent Jack Westerman of Port Townsend filed to seek re-election as county assessor, the post he’s held since 1978.
The position is partisan and Westerman is a Democrat.
County Auditor Donna Eldridge, a Republican from Port Townsend, also filed.
Democrat Ruth Gordon from Port Townsend filed for re-election to the county clerk position.
Incumbent Sheriff Mike Brasfield of Port Ludlow, a Democrat, filed for re-election.
So did Treasurer Judith Morris of Port Hadlock, a Republican.
The Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioner for District 2 incumbent, Kelly Hays of Nordland, also filed Monday. The position is non-partisan.
And the PUD commissioner for District 3 incumbent, Wayne King of Gardiner, filed as well.
New faces
But in two instances where the incumbent isn’t running, candidates to be the successor filed quickly on Monday.
For District 3 county commissioner, being vacated by Pat Rodgers of Brinnon, two Republicans and one Democrat — all previously announced candidates — made it official.
Republicans Bob Pontius of Port Ludlow and Ian McFall from Brinnon assured a Republican primary election in September to determine who will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.
The only Democrat to file Monday was John Austin from Port Ludlow.
With District Court Judge Mark Huth bowing out, two previously announced candidates for the bench have filed for the nonpartisan position: Jill Landes of Port Townsend and Rebekah Ross of Brinnon.
Cemetery district
A proposed cemetery district in Gardiner will be on the Nov. 7 ballot, and if it is formed, three cemetery district commissioner candidates will be on the ballot.
The first to file Monday was Diane Martin of Gardiner.
The filing period ends Friday at 4:30 p.m., at which time candidates’ names will be drawn by lot to determine the order as they will appear on the primary ballot.
For nonpartisan candidates, names will be drawn by lot to determine the order on the non-partisan ballot.
Candidates have until Aug. 3 to withdraw their declaration of candidacy.
State, federal filings
At the state and federal levels, Monday’s filings for offices that include the North Olympic Peninsula appear in the Clallam filing story that precedes this one on the home page.
