PORT TOWNSEND — A three-way race formed Thursday for the two-year Position 1 state representative position being vacated by Kevin Van De Wege.
Tammy Ramsay, a Hoquiam Democrat, and George Vrable, a Port Ludlow Republican, filed for the District 24 legislative seat, joining Mike Chapman, a Port Angeles Democrat now serving on the Clallam County commission, who filed for the seat Monday.
In other 24th District legislative races, Van De Wege, D-Sequim, is pitted against Danille Turissini of Port Ludlow, who filed with the preference of “Independent GOP Party,” for the 24th Legislative District Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who is retiring.
Incumbent state Rep. Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat, also has filed for re-election to a two-year term in the Position 2 district seat he has held for three terms without challengers.
Congressional race
Also filing Thursday were two challengers of U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
Mike Coverdale of Westport, a real estate broker, filed with no party preference, while Tyler Myles Vega of Port Townsend filed as a Green Party candidate for the two-year seat.
Today is the last day for candidate filings for county, regional and statewide offices.
Four-way race
By the close of Thursday filings, four people were seeking election to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat being vacated by Phil Johnson, while the incumbent in District 2, David Sullivan — a Democrat — was unopposed in his bid for a fourth term.
Jeff Gallant, a Port Townsend Republican, filed Thursday for the District 1 seat.
Three Democrats — Cynthia Koan, Kate Dean and Tim Thomas, all of Port Townsend — had filed earlier this week.
“I want people to know that not all Republicans are fat-cat capitalists looking to exhaust human and natural resources,” said Gallant, 59.
“There are many good Republicans out there who are ready to deal with the changing society and the pressure it brings.”
The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 8 primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election, regardless of party affiliation.
The major issues for Gallant are transportation and growth.
“People around the country are worried about climate change, and the Pacific Northwest isn’t suffering as badly,” he said.
“We have some water problems and weather issues, but there will be some growth.”
Gallant said the county needs to explore transportation options such as road improvement and an increased support of public transportation.
“We live in this beautiful area, but not everyone is having the same experience,” he said.
“They are struggling with unemployment and land use issues.”
Gallant said he is not seeking, nor would he accept, support from the Jefferson County Republican Party, citing GOP denial of human-caused climate change as his main reason.
Gallant is single and has lived in Jefferson County for 29 years.
Other county races
Filing for a six-year term on the Jefferson County Public Utility District commission earlier this week were incumbent Barney Burke and challenger Jeff Randall.
Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Keith Harper is running for a second four-year term and has no declared opposition.
Craddock Verser was the last to run unopposed for the county’s only Superior Court position in 2008.
The last Republicans elected to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners were in 2000, with Dan Titterness in District 1 and Glen Huntingford in District 2.
The seat held by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Seattle, is up as well as nine statewide executive offices and three Supreme Court seats.
Statewide offices on the ballot will be governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction and insurance commissioner.
For a complete list of candidates who have filed for election, see the Jefferson County auditor website, http://tinyurl.com/PDN-jeffcoelections.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
