PORT ANGELES — Republican Maggie Roth is giving it another shot.
Roth announced Friday she is running a second time for Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman’s Port Angeles-area District 2 position, which he has held since 2000.
She is a civil process server and a former owner of Northwest Duty Free and Currency Exchange in Port Angeles.
Chapman — who entered county politics as a Republican, became an independent and then in December said he had registered with the Clallam County Democrats — is not seeking re-election.
Candidate filing week is May 16-20 for the Nov. 8 election.
‘Make a difference’
“I am running because I feel I can make a difference in county government, that I would be a good listener for the public to hear the issues that are presented to the county commissioners and would listen to both sides to come to a fair decision for the people of Clallam County,” said Roth, 61.
Chapman defeated Roth in 2012 with 21,901 votes (62.4 percent) to Roth’s 13,195 votes (37.6 percent).
“Someone who is entrenched in office is very difficult to beat,” she said.
“What I find positive this time around is that I find individuals who are willing to step up and help have confidence in me, which is nice to have behind you,” Roth said, adding that James Preston and Danetta Rutten of Port Angeles have signed on as co-campaign managers.
“I seem better prepared this time,” Roth added. “I know the direction I want to go in and I know how I want to go there.”
As an elected member of the 2015 Charter Review Commission, Roth said she supported the county charter measure that voters approved in November that reduced the general election voting area for county commissioner from countywide to districtwide only, as it is for the primary election.
She also said she favors the county having the only elected Department of Community Development director in the nation.
On the issue of arrearage, or the unsold timber on county trust lands managed by the state Department of Natural Resources in the Olympic region, Roth said the county does not have the resources to take over management of that property.
“DNR needs to answer to our county as to what has not been cut or what should be cut,” she added.
And on county funding for the Clallam County Economic Development Corp., “I would like to see what jobs are actually being retained,” she said.
But Roth is reserving judgment on the Navy’s controversial proposal to conduct electronic warfare range activities over the North Olympic Peninsula.
“I have no comment right now,” she said. “Until it has a thorough study, no. There’s still a lot of information going into the county about it.”
Roth owned the duty-free store with her late husband, Terry, who ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for Chapman’s seat in 2008.
She is a member of Nor’wester Rotary and Soroptimist of Port Angeles-Jet Set.
Roth is a Seward, Alaska, native who grew up in Snohomish County and has lived in Port Angeles for 36 years.
Democrat Ron Richards also announced he would run for the seat.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
