PORT TOWNSEND — A majority of the Port Townsend City Council positions will be on the ballot this year.
In total, 59 elected positions in Jefferson County will be open as filing week kicks off Monday.
Candidates who have an interest in public office are required to declare their intent with the county elections division by 4 p.m. Friday.
On the Port Townsend City Council, four of the seven positions will offer new four-year terms.
Incumbents David Faber and Deborah Stinson, who currently serves as mayor, both plan to run for their respective positions.
“I have been able to put pressure on issues around affordable housing in the community, although there’s still more work to be done,” Faber said.
“I also a value having at least a few members of council who have been around for more than just one term so we can get some institutional knowledge built back up.”
Some of that knowledge will leave with two-term member Bob Gray, who does not plan to run for re-election.
“I kind of think we should have term limits, and I thought two would be enough,” Gray said.
Gray, often the lone dissenting voice on the council, said debate can bring positive change.
“I would like to see more people really dig into the issues and consider the alternatives, which didn’t happen during my term,” he said. “I think if their positions are challenged, that’s a good way to get the issues and alternatives to the forefront.”
Faber said the next council will have large tasks ahead of it, including the transition to a new city manager after David Timmons — the only city manager Port Townsend has had — retires at the end of June.
“We will need whatever support we can get from the policy side of things to ensure success for a new city manager,” Faber said. “I think I bring to the table some of that institutional knowledge now that I’ve been on the council for a full term.”
Amy Howard holds the other position on City Council up for election. She did not return phone calls Friday seeking her decision.
Port of Port Townsend
Of the three Port of Port Townsend commission seats, Steve Tucker’s will be open because he does not plan to seek re-election. Tucker served two four-year terms.
“I retired because I’d rather have time than money,” he said. “I wanted to reclaim some of that retirement time.”
Tucker said he was involved in port initiatives before he was elected and plans to stay involved once he leaves public office.
He worked on the port’s strategic plan along with boat ramp issues and a dock rebuild.
“I plan on being active like I was, but I’d like to take some time and do some traveling,” he said.
Open offices
If more than two candidates file for the same position, an August primary election will determine the top two by popular vote for the general election.
The are no filing fees unless otherwise noted.
The following offices and associated term lengths will be on the 2019 ballot:
Port of Port Townsend ($34.20 filing fee): Commissioner, District 1. Four-year term.
East Jefferson County Hospital District No. 2: Commissioner, Position 3; Commissioner, Position 5. Each has a six-year term.
West (Forks) Jefferson County Hospital District No. 1: Commissioner, Position 2, six-year term.
City of Port Townsend ($60): Council member, Position 3; Council member, Position 4; Council member, Position 6; Council member, Position 7. Each has a four-year term.
Queets/Clearwater School District No. 20: Director, At Large Position 1, two-year unexpired term; Director, At Large Position 2, two-year unexpired term; Director, At Large Position 3, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 4, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 5, two-year unexpired term.
Brinnon School District No. 46: Director, At Large Position 1, two-year unexpired term; Director, At Large Position 2, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 3, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 4, four-year term.
Quilcene School District No. 48: Director, District 1, four-year term; Director, District 3, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 4, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 5, two-year unexpired term.
Chimacum School District No. 49: Director, District 2, two-year unexpired term; Director, District 3, four-year term; Director, District 4, four-year term.
Port Townsend School District No. 50: Director, District 2, four-year term; Director, District 3, four-year term; Director, At Large Position 5, four-year term.
Sequim School District No. 323 (Clallam County filing): Director, District No. 1, four-year term; Director, District No. 3, four-year term; Director, At Large Position No. 5, four-year term.
Quillayute Valley School District No. 402 (Clallam County filing): Director, District No. 1, four-year term; Director, District No. 3, four-year term; Director, District No. 5, four-year term.
East Jefferson Fire Rescue: Commissioner, Position 1, six-year short and full term.
Quilcene Fire District No. 2: Commissioner, Position 1, six-year term.
Port Ludlow Fire District No. 3: Commissioner, Position 2, six-year term; Commissioner, Position 4, six-year term.
Brinnon Fire District No. 4: Commissioner, Position 3, six-year term.
Discovery Bay Fire District No. 5: Commissioner, Position 3, six-year term.
Clearwater Fire District No. 7: Commissioner, Position 1, six-year short and full term; Commissioner, Position 2, four-year unexpired term; Commissioner, Position 3, two-year unexpired term.
Clallam-Jefferson Fire Protection District No. 1 (Clallam County filing): Commissioner, Position No. 3, six-year short and full term; Commissioner, Position No. 4, six-year term.
Clallam-Jefferson Fire Protection District No. 3 (Clallam County filing): Commissioner Position No. 3, six-year term.
Paradise Bay Water District No. 1: Commissioner, Position 1, two-year unexpired term; Commissioner, Position 3, six-year term.
Brinnon Water District No. 2: Commissioner, Position 1, six-year term.
Brinnon Cemetery District No. 1: Commissioner, Position 2, six-year term.
Quilcene Cemetery District No. 2: Commissioner, Position 3, six-year term.
Gardiner Cemetery District No. 3: Commissioner, Position 1, six-year term.
Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District No. 1: Commissioner, Position 1, four-year term; Commissioner, Position 4, four-year term; Commissioner, Position 5, four-year term.
Brinnon Park and Recreation District No. 2: Commissioner, Position 1, two-year unexpired term; Commissioner, Position 2, four-year short and full term; Commissioner, Position 3, four-year short and full term; Commissioner, Position 4, four-year short and full term; Commissioner, Position 5, two-year unexpired term.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
