PORT TOWNSEND — Candidates for Jefferson County commissioner, public utility district commissioner and a state Senate seat will answer questions at upcoming League of Women Voter forums.
Candidates for the 24th Legislative District Senate seat and for the Jefferson County Public Utility District commission’s District 1 seat will be at the Wednesday, July 6, forum set for 7 p.m. at the Chimacum Grange, 9572 Rhody Drive.
Candidates for the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat will be at the Wednesday, July 13, forum set for 7 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
At each forum, each candidate will give an opening statement, then answer questions directed to all candidates.
Questions from public
The questions will be from the public and will be submitted in writing either before or during the forum, said Sheila Murphy, unit chair for the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County, which organized the forums.
If time allows, questions directly from the floor will be taken, and then candidates will give closing statements, she said. Fred Obee will serve as moderator.
Candidates
Seeking the state Senate seat, which is open following the retirement of Hoquiam Democrat Jim Hargrove, are Kevin Van De Wege, a Sequim Democrat serving as a state representative, and Danille Turissini of Port Ludlow, who filed as “Independent GOP.”
In the nonpartisan PUD race, incumbent Barney Burke is challenged by Jeff Randall. Both are from Port Townsend.
Five candidates are seeking the District 1 Board of County Commissioner position being vacated by Phil Johnson, who decided not to run for re-election.
Three are Democrats: Kate Dean, Cynthia Koan and Tim Thomas. Jeff Gallant is a Republican and Holly Postmus filed with no party preference.
One a primary race
Of the races featured at the forums, only the county commission race will be on the Aug. 2 primary election ballot.
Ballots will be cast in the other two races only in the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The primary election narrows to two choices the field of candidates who file for a position. If only two are running, there is no primary contest.
In Washington state’s top-two primary, the two candidates who get the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
House race
A primary contest is set for the 24th District state representative Position 1 seat that Van De Wege is leaving to run for the Senate.
No forum is scheduled for that race because two of the three candidates told the league they were not available.
The league offered candidates a choice of two dates, Murphy said.
Mike Chapman, a Clallam County commissioner running for the seat as a Democrat, said he was available for either date, Murphy said.
Both Republican George Vrable of Port Ludlow and Democrat Tammy Ramsay of Hoquiam told the league they were not available on either date, she said.
The venues already had been secured and so races that are not on the primary ballot were included in the pre-primary forum lineup, according to Murphy.
The forums are sponsored by the American Association of University Women-Port Townsend and the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader.
For additional information, contact Murphy at 360-531-1221.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
