PORT ANGELES — Former acting Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols filed Wednesday to compete against the man who was appointed to the top prosecutor’s job.
Nichols, the county’s half-time hearings examiner, and William Payne, who was appointed to the position earlier this year and who filed for this year’s election earlier this week, are both Republicans.
Nichols said Wednesday his legal experience would make him a good fit for the job.
“I believe I am competent and can do a good job and want to do that for the community,” he said.
Payne said he had assumed Nichols would run.
“Quite frankly, I expected it,” Payne said.
Also Wednesday, Republican Thomas Greisamer of Moclips in Grays Harbor County filed to challenge incumbent 24th District state Rep. Steve Tharinger’s bid for a third term.
Tharinger is a Sequim Democrat.
Fellow Sequim Democrat Kevin Van De Wege also filed for re-election to his 24th District seat earlier this week, although no challengers had emerged as of Wednesday.
The 24th District includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Gig Harbor Republican Marty McClendon also Wednesday entered the race for the 6th District congressional seat held by Port Angeles native Derek Kilmer, who has filed for re-election.
W. “Greybeard” McPherson of Port Angeles, who stated no party preference but voted for the Green Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election, also filed to run against Kilmer, guaranteeing a primary for the position.
Online and in-person filing for 34 positions in Clallam County ends at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Any position with more than two candidates signed up will be on the Aug. 5 primary ballot. The vote will narrow the field to two who will vie in the Nov. 4 general election.
New candidates also filed Wednesday for seats on the 15-person nonpartisan county Charter Review Commission, a one-year position.
The top five vote-getters in each of the county’s three county commissioner districts will automatically be seated on the commission as a result of the general election.
Bill Lowman and Henning Holmgaard filed Wednesday for a Sequim-area District 1 seat.
Jon Alan Kirshbaum, Nola Judd, Anita Ready, Ted Miller, Sue Forde and Brandon Janisse filed earlier this week.
Steven Burke and Scott Clausen filed Wednesday for Port Angeles-area District 2 seats.
Maggie Roth, Kaj Ahlburg, Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin, Stephanie Noblin, Judi Hangartner and Norma Turner filed earlier this week.
County Superior Court Clerk Barbara Christensen filed for a District 3 seat.
John Merton Marrs , Connie Beauvais, William White and Andrew May, a Peninsula Daily News columnist, filed earlier this week.
Port Angeles City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch, a Democrat, and Bill Peach, a Republican, already filed for incumbent county Commissioner Mike Doherty’s West End District 3 position.
Clallam County incumbents who filed earlier this week for nonpartisan countywide offices included Director of Community Development Sheila Roark Miller, who drew opponent Mary Ellen Winborn.
Sheriff Bill Benedict, Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis, Assessor Pam Rushton, Superior Court Judge Chris Melly and Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioner Hugh Haffner also filed earlier this week for their respective nonpartisan offices.
Port Angeles-area District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter filed for re-election earlier this week to the nonpartisan position.
Forks-area District Court 2 Judge John Doherty, who was appointed to his nonpartisan position, also filed as a candidate.
Clallam County Elections Supervisor Shoona Riggs also is running for retiring county Auditor Patty Rosand’s nonpartisan position.
The North Olympic Peninsula Primary Election Guide, prepared and published by the Peninsula Daily News, will appear in print and online July 18
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
