PORT TOWNSEND — Election season begins with a voters forum tonight that includes candidates from two City Council races and features discussion of an upcoming fire services tax levy request.
The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, 1338 Jefferson St.
It is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County and the weekly newspaper Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader.
The discussion of the fire measure will be officiated by Port Townsend City Councilman David King, who is also a member of the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue joint oversight board.
Forum organizer Jackie Aase said the sponsors could not find anyone to argue against the measure but that King — who supports the measure — would be objective in his answers.
The ballot measure addresses a $640,000 budget shortfall needed to pay for fire services as the city prepares to annex into East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
As proposed, the measure would raise property taxes, adding 43 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation.
For a house assessed at $300,000, this represents a yearly increase of $129, or almost $13 a month.
Elections are taking place for two of the four open City Council seats.
In Position 3, which is now occupied by the retiring Laurie Medlicott, Jack Range is running against Deborah Stinson.
Range is an investigator for Jefferson County Public Defender while Stinson is a member of the Local Investment Opportunity Network.
In Position 4, incumbent George Randels, who also serves as deputy mayor, is challenged by Robert Gray.
Gray said he is challenging Randels because he is the longest-serving council member who is up for re-election this year.
Gray, a 10-year resident of Port Townsend, is active at the Port Townsend Senior Center.
Randels, a retired attorney, worked in Washington, D.C., before moving to Port Townsend.
Tonight’s forum will be moderated by Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader General Manager Fred Obee.
The forum will include statements from the candidates and questions from the audience, Aase said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
