PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Ludlow woman who has filed her candidacy for the 24th Legislative District senate seat is running on a platform of collaboration and upsetting the status quo.
“I like to solve problems when a lot of different ideas are on the table,” said Danille Turissini, who filed with the preference of “Independent GOP Party” for the seat now occupied by Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who is retiring.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Olympia and I know how things work and don’t work,” she said in a press release.
Turissini, who had not announced her intention to run earlier this year, is running against Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, a Democrat, for a four-year term.
Also filing on the North Olympic Peninsula on Tuesday was Dave Neupert of Port Angeles, seeking the Clallam County Superior Court judge seat now held by Brian Coughenour.
Candidate filing week continues through Friday.
In other District 24 legislative races, Mike Chapman, a Port Angeles Democrat, filed for the two-year Position 1 state representative position being vacated by Van De Wege, while incumbent state Rep. Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat, also filed for re-election to a two-year term in the Position 2 district seat he has held for three terms.
Turissini aims
Turissini said she wants to improve schools, create good-paying jobs and provide good stewardship of lands and tax dollars.
She said that rural communities such as Jefferson County are suffering from lack of investment, unnecessary regulations and poor leadership.
She is running as a Republican “because I’m going to represent the interests of our district, not the party bosses and special interests.
“I’ll be an independent voice for improving our communities — our schools, creating jobs and controlling government spending.”
She said she “doesn’t adhere to every talking point” of the Republican Party, from which she expects funding and support.
In 2012, Turissini was the legislative liaison for the Music Matters special license plate, sponsored by Music Aid Northwest to fund music programs in schools.
Neupert
Neupert was among the applicants for the judgeship when Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Coughenour in 2015.
Neupert joined the Platt-Irwin Law Firm in Port Angeles in 1995.
According to his biography on the law firm’s website, he specializes in municipal law, employment law, civil litigation, and landlord and tenant law.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College in 1977, and his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1986.
In Washington state’s top-two primary, set Aug. 2, the two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the Nov. 8 election regardless of party affiliation.
Races with only two candidates will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Monday filings
Several candidates filed Monday.
In Clallam County, Democrat Ron Richards filed for the Port Angeles-area District 2 Clallam County commissioner position being vacated by Chapman.
Incumbent Clallam County Superior Court Judges Christopher Melly and Erik Rohrer, as well as appointee Coughenour also filed Monday.
Werner Buehler and incumbent Will Purser, who serves as commission president, filed for the Sequim-area District 1 Clallam County Public Utility District commissioner position.
In Jefferson County, Cynthia Koan, Kate Dean and Tim Thomas filed as Democrats for the District 1 county commissioner seat being vacated by Phil Johnson.
Incumbent District 2 County Commissioner David Sullivan filed for a fourth four-year term.
Filing for a six-year term on the Jefferson County Public Utility District commission were incumbent Barney Burke and challenger Jeff Randall.
Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Keith Harpe is running for a second four-year term and currently has no declared opposition.
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Port Angeles native whose 6th District includes Jefferson and Clallam counties, also filed for re-election to the two-year position he has held since 2012.
The seat held by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Seattle, will be up as well as nine statewide executive offices and three Supreme Court seats.
Statewide offices on the ballot will be governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction and insurance commissioner.
For complete lists of candidates who have filed for election, see the Clallam and Jefferson County auditor websites.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
