PORT TOWNSEND — Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger of Sequim and Jack Dwyer of Montesano made good on their promises to run for the state House of Representatives seat being vacated by the retiring Democrat Lynn Kessler by filing candidates papers Wednesday.
No Jefferson County candidates filed Wednesday.
The candidate filing period for the Nov. 2 general election passed the halfway point Wednesday. The filing period continues through Friday.
Republican Jim McEntire of Sequim, a retired Coast Guard captain, and Republican Larry Carter of Port Ludlow, a retired Navy command master chief petty officer, also are vying for Position 2 in the 24th Legislative District, which covers Jefferson and Clallam County and part of Grays Harbor County.
Tharinger, a Democrat, has said he plans to keep his current $63,502-a-year county commissioner position and run for the $42,106-a-year seat.
Dwyer is a chiropractor who serves on the Montesano School Board.
He has said he would resign his unpaid position if he were elected to the House.
McEntire, a first-term Port of Port Angeles commissioner, has said he would resign his port seat if elected.
Carter does not hold elective office.
For Position No. 1 in the 24th District, two-term incumbent Democrat Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, a firefighter and paramedic, is being challenged by Port Ludlow Republican Craig Durgan, a business owner and retired maritime engineer, and Port Angeles Republican Dan Gase of Port Angeles, a real estate broker.
All of the elected incumbents in Jefferson County had filed for re-election by Tuesday, with none other than Jefferson County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, drawing any opposition.
Port Ludlow builder Jim Boyer, a Republican, is challenging Austin.
Boyer’s entry creates the only top two primary race in the county so far, which will be scheduled Aug. 17, said Karen Cartmel, chief deputy auditor for elections.
Tarboo Bay Democrat Diane Johnson on Monday made her challenge official against Austin.
The top two vote getters will then advance to the Nov. 2 general election, Cartmel said.
Scott Rosekrans filed as a Democrat on Tuesday for the Jefferson County prosecuting attorney position being vacated by Juelie Dalzell. No other candidate has filed for the position.
County Treasurer Judi Morris filed Tuesday as a Republican for another four-year term. She has held the courthouse office since 1997.
Jefferson County incumbents who filed Monday were county Auditor Donna Eldridge, a Republican who has held the seat since 1995; county Assessor Jack Westerman III, who is the longest-standing assessor in the state at 31 years; Democratic Sheriff Tony Hernandez, who is finishing an appointed seat to run for his first full four-year term; Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon, who seeks a second four-year term; and nonpartisan District Court Judge Jill Landes, who seeks a second four-year term.
Public Utility District
Former newspaper reporter Barney Burke of Port Townsend has filed for election to a six-year term.
Burke was appointed by fellow commissioners Ken McMillen and Wayne King to fill the nonpartisan seat vacated in November by the death of Commissioner Dana Roberts.
The position, which is for district 1, is nonpartisan position.
Congress
Democrat Norm Dicks of Belfair, a 16-term incumbent, is being challenged by Republican lawyer Doug Cloud of Tacoma and Republican software engineer Jesse Young of Tacoma.
The position pays $174,000.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Patty Murray, D-Freeland, has filed for re-election. She is being challenged by Democrat Mike the Mover of Mill Creek, and Goodspaceguy, a Seattle Democrat.
Also filing were Republican Norma D. Gruber of Walla Walla, Republican William Edward Chovil of Tacoma, independent Schalk Leonard of Poulsbo and independent James “Skip” Mercer of Bellevue.
The position pays $174,000.
State Supreme Court
Incumbent State Supreme Court Justice Jim Johnson of Olympia filed for re-election to his Position No. 1 seat on Wednesday. Challenger Stan Rumbaugh of Tacoma filed for Sanders’ position.
Incumbent Position No. 6 Justice Richard B. Sanders of Olympia had filed for re-election, and Charlie Wiggins of Bainbridge Island filed to challenge him.
Incumbent Chief Justice Barbara Madsen of Seattle is seeking re-election to her Position No. 5 seat.
The position pays $164,221.
The candidates filing period closes at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the county Auditor’s Office on the second floor of Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
Candidates are required to pay filing fees, which amount to 1 percent of the annual salary of the yearly salary for each position that pays over $1,000 per year.
Immediately after filing closes, candidates will draw lots for their places on the ballot at the county Auditor’s Office.
Candidates can now be notified by e-mail if an opponent files for the same office.
Filings are posted online through the state Secretary of State’s Office at http://tinyurl.com/nhow2a.
________
Jefferson County reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
