PORT TOWNSEND — As the final day of filing begins today, only one of four Port Townsend City Council races is uncontested, while three candidates in another will force a primary contest.
As of Thursday afternoon, Position 3 City Councilwoman Deborah Stinson, 59, was the only candidate in the Nov. 3 general election who had not drawn an opponent.
A candidate in another race predicts that will change.
“I am certain someone will run against her,” said Todd Wexman, who filed Wednesday for the Position 6 slot to succeed retiring Mayor David King.
“I’ve seen this before, where there are people waiting to file for different positions and they do it at the last minute.”
Wexman, 77, a retired architect, is currently in the only race that qualifies for a primary contest.
He is running against Amy Smith, Boiler Room executive director, and Pinbar owner Paul Rice, who was the first to declare Monday. Both are 32.
If more than two candidates file for one office, one candidate will be eliminated in the Aug. 4 primary, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Filing continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
All of this year’s elections are nonpartisan contests.
Wexman said that if elected, he would align himself with Councilman Bob Gray, 67, who has positioned himself as a fiscal conservative.
“As a concerned citizen of Port Townsend, I’ve served as a thorn in the side for many of those who decide for us,” Wexman said.
“I don’t hold back what I say, and I’ve been frustrated and unhappy with the direction of the City Council.”
Gray, Position 4, is opposed by Tobi McEnerney, 35, who is making her first bid for political office.
She said she is “committed to the idea that democracy means that the average citizen can have a voice.
“As a member of the City Council, I will be accessible to everyone, and I will be looking for ways to have the voices of our community heard,” McEnerney said.
Four years ago, Gray said he intended to serve only one term, but he has changed his mind.
“I’ve been very successful in what I set out to do: getting some new sidewalks and parks,” Gray said.
“I’d also like to work to help lower-income people find some good jobs.”
Filing Monday were two candidates for the Position 7 seat to succeed Deputy Mayor Kris Nelson, who is retiring.
There are two hopefuls for Nelson’s seat: attorney David Faber, 32, and Port of Port Townsend maintenance worker Travis Keena, 38.
Other candidates who filed Thursday were:
■ Ron Gregory, former Jefferson County Republican party chairman, is challenging Port Ludlow Fire Commissioner Ron Helmonds, who is the incumbent in Position 3.
■ Bonnie Hitt is opposing incumbent Katie Rancich for Position 3 on the Quilcene School Board.
■ Sean Ryan filed for the six-year Forks Fire Commissioner Position 1 spot, challenging incumbent G. Michael Gawley.
■ Appointed Gardiner Cemetery District commissioner Terry A. Wood filed for the Position 3 unexpired two-year term.
Previous filings
■ Incumbent Port of Port Townsend Position 1 Commissioner Steve Tucker filed for a second four-year term.
■ Incumbent Jefferson Healthcare Commissioners Mari Dressler and Chuck Russell each have filed for another six-year term.
■ Keith White, who was appointed to the Port Townsend School District Position 5 earlier this year, has filed for a four-year elected term.
■ Maggie Ejde, who was appointed to the Chimacum School Board, is running for a four-year elected term to Position 3.
■ Incumbent Ron Stephens seeks another four-year term in Brinnon School District Position 3.
■ Quilcene School Board incumbents Gena Lont, Position 4, and Shona Davis, Position 1, each seek another four-year term.
■ Brinnon Water District Position 3 Commissioner Wayne Schlaefli seeks another six-year term.
■ In the Quillayute Valley School District, incumbent board member Bill Rohde seeks another four-year term.
This district straddles Clallam County and has 143 registered voters in Jefferson County.
■ In the Queets/Clearwater School District, incumbents David Atkinson, Position 3, and Rowland Mason, Position 4, each seek another six-year term.
■ Incumbent Rich Stapf Jr., the chairman of the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue board, seeks another six-year term.
■ Clallam-Jefferson Fire Protection District’s G. Michael Gawley seeks another six-year term in Position 1.
■ Brinnon School Board incumbents Joe Baisch, Position 3, and Bill Barnet, Position 4, each for an additional term.
■ Port Ludlow Fire District incumbent Ron Helmonds, who filed for another four-year term in Position 3.
■ Lowell P. McQuoid, Position 5, who filed for another six-year term on the Forks Fire Commission.
■ Two appointed Quilcene Cemetery District Commissioners, Laurie Neuenschwander and Michael Spears, are running for elected terms.
■ Incumbent Brinnon Fire Commissioner Ken McEdwards filed for another six-year term.
■ Gardiner Cemetery District incumbent Diane Movius Martin filed for another six-year term.
■ Discovery Bay Fire District Board incumbent Ford Kessler filed for another six-year term.
■ Incumbent Quilcene School Board Position 3 member Katie Rancich filed for another four-year term.
For a complete list of all candidates who have filed, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-filing.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
