Jefferson County voters will have plenty of decisions to make in the Sept. 19 primary and the Nov. 7 general election.
A last-minute filing Friday by Peggy Ann Bierbaum, a Democrat and private-practice attorney in Port Townsend and Quilcene resident, for the prosecuting attorney/coroner position came as a surprise to two-term Democratic incumbent Juelie Dalzell.
The weeklong filing period ended Friday at 4:30 p.m., but because Dalzell and Bierbaum are Democrats, the Jefferson County Republican Party has until Aug. 4 to designate a Republican candidate.
If a Republican candidate fails to materialize, the prosecuting attorney race will be decided in the Democratic primary.
Busy campaigns
Dalzell said campaigning while she works as prosecutor will leave little time for anything else.
“Literally, I’ll be working two full-time jobs,” said Dalzell.
“But I have the passion for it.”
Bierbaum, who has 24 years experience as a lawyer, says she has what it takes to be prosecutor.
“I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve as prosecuting attorney because I bring both extensive management and administrative experience, as well as a successful legal practice,” she said.
As a result of a ballot-placement drawing that took place after filing closed Friday, Bierbaum’s name will appear above Dalzell’s on the ballot.
In other races, the District 3 county commissioner race drew three previously announced candidates for the seat being vacated by Republican Pat Rodgers of Brinnon.
Bob Pontius, a Republican from Port Ludlow and Ian McFall, a Republican from Brinnon, will battle in the primary for the right to face Democrat John Austin of Port Ludlow in the Nov. 7 general election.
Sheriff’s election
Incumbent Sheriff Mike Brasfield, a Democrat from Port Ludlow, will seek a second, four-year term.
He has one challenger in the sheriff’s race: Richard Brees, a Republican from Port Ludlow who is currently a real estate agent.
Their race will be decided in November.
The District Court judge race drew the most interest, with four candidates looking to fill the nonpartisan bench being vacated by Judge Mark Huth after two terms.
The names on the primary ballot will appear in this order: Richard Suryan of Port Hadlock, Jill Landes of Port Townsend, John Hynson of Port Townsend and Rebekah Ross of Brinnon.
All candidates for the District Court Judge are currently Jefferson County attorneys.
If one candidate receives 50 percent of the vote plus 1 vote in the primary, he or she will automatically be elected.
If not, the two candidates who received the most votes will move on to the general election.
Four incumbent, partisan candidates were unopposed as of Friday: Assessor Jack Westerman, D-Port Townsend, Auditor Donna Eldridge, R-Port Townsend, Clerk Ruth Gordon, D-Port Townsend, and Treasurer Judith Morris, R-Port Hadlock.
If an opposing political party doesn’t select a candidate for these positions by Friday, the incumbents will automatically be re-elected.
PUD commissioner
Jefferson County Public Utility District Commissioners Wayne King of Gardiner and Kelly Hays of Nordland were in effect re-elected Friday to their nonpartisan seats because no opponent filed against either.
A proposed cemetery district in Gardiner, which will be voted on in the general election, drew two candidates for Position No. 1 of three cemetery board positions available: Jim Hueter of Sequim and Bill Campbell of Gardiner. Their names will appear on the ballot in that order.
The second board position was won by Diane Martin of Gardiner because she runs unopposed — if voters create the cemetery district.
Position No. 3 has two candidates: Bob Minty and Suzanne Rehder, both of Gardiner.
Their names will appear on the general election ballot in that order.
Precinct officers
The Republican candidates for Jefferson County precinct committee officers are: Gary Rossow of Port Townsend (Precinct 104), Margaret Reep of Port Townsend (105), Dennis Schultz of Port Townsend (106), Gaile Knutszen of Port Townsend (108), Treva Worthington of Quilcene (109), Veda Wilson of Quilcene (201), Bud Schindler of Brinnon (204), Roger Horner of Chimacum (301), Dan Youra of Port Hadlock (303), Michael Burkart of Port Townsend (304), George Forker of Port Townsend (305), Philip Flynn of Nordland (401), and Ronald Gregory of Port Ludlow (501).
Also, David Cabbell of Port Ludlow (502), Lawrence Mehelis of Port Ludlow (503), Edeltraut Sokol of Port Townsend (701), James Lanza of Port Townsend (702), MariLou Sullivan of Port Townsend (704), and Mary Rolson of Port Townsend (705).
The Democratic precinct committee officers are: Diana Cowan of Port Townsend (104), Catherine McNabb of Port Townsend (105), Claire Roney of Port Townsend (106), Karen Wyman of Chimacum (107), Raymond Hunter of Port Townsend (108), Tom Hagen of Port Ludlow (200), Connie Gallant of Quilcene (201), and Maynard Kragthorpe of Quilcene (203).
Also, Toby Clauson of Brinnon (204), Phil Andrus of Chimacum (301), Gary Estes of Chimacum (302), Heidi Eisenhour of Port Hadlock (303), Gloria Bram of Port Townsend (304), Stephanie Root-Dickey of Port Hadlock (305), Gretchen Kaiser of Nordland (401), Adele Govert of Port Ludlow (501), Linda Karp of Port Ludlow (502), Walt Hardin of Port Ludlow (503), Gary Engbrecht of Port Townsend (701), Rebekah McGuire of Port Townsend (702), Bill Miller of Port Townsend (703), Larry Bonar of Port Townsend (704) and Nancy Alvarez of Port Townsend (705).
Candidates have until Aug. 3 to withdrawal their candidacy.
Ballots in the all-mail primary will be sent out Aug. 30.
