PORT TOWNSEND — A primary contest in the race to replace Port Townsend City Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott formed when a third candidate filed for the seat.
Jack Range, a 25-year-old investigator for the Jefferson Associated Council, will run against retired chiropractor Pamela Adams and Port Townsend attorney Paul Richmond, who both filed Tuesday.
“I have an interest in politics, and I was talking about how there was this opportunity to, and my friends were saying that I should run,” Range said.
“So I decided to take a shot.”
If more than two candidates file for a position, they will square off in the Aug. 16 primary, with the top two advancing to the Nov. 8 general election — regardless of party preference in partisan races.
Primary ballots will be mailed to voters July 27.
Races with only two candidates skip the primary and move on to the general election.
Range grew up in Port Townsend, graduating from Port Townsend High School in 2004 and earning a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Washington in 2008.
He worked in his current job for a year and a half. When he finishes a law school alternative program, he plans to take the state bar exam.
Although he is still working on his platform, Range said it will focus on health care, jobs and criminal justice.
“There is a place to offer representation to people who do not have a voice,” he said.
“We need to cast a critical eye about how the money is spent.”
Range, who said he has never attended a City Council meeting, said he is seeking the open seat “because I don’t want to step on the toes of anyone who has done a good job.”
Adams said Tuesday she has attended one meeting, while Richmond has often attended and commented at meetings of several local legislative bodies.
The Position 3 seat now held by Medlicott, who is not running for re-election, is the only Port Townsend City Council seat sought by more than one candidate.
Four seats are open on the council.
Incumbents Kris Nelson, David King and George Randels, who serves as deputy mayor, filed this week.
The filing period for all offices expiring this year continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Friday at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
Other Wednesday filings included incumbent Valerie Schindler for the Brinnon School Board and incumbent Shoana Davis and newcomer Mary Gail Falk for separate positions on the Quilcene School Board.
On Monday, Steve Tucker, a 61-year-old former Coast Guard Auxiliary operations officer and longtime boater from Port Townsend, filed for the Port of Port Townsend commissioner seat being vacated by John Collins, a seat that represents the city of Port Townsend and the North Jacob area west of the city.
Filing for separate seats on the Port Townsend School Board are incumbent Anne Burkart and Pamela Daly.
On Wednesday, Quilcene School Principal James Betteley filed for a position on the Port Ludlow Fire District, while David Atkinson and Rowland Mason filed for the Queets/Clearwater School District.
Filing earlier this week for the Chimacum School Board were incumbent David Robocker for his District 4 seat and Kris Butler for the District 3 seat.
Incumbents Roger Cemper and Bill Banret have filed for the Brinnon School Board, and incumbent David Dickson has filed for the Quillayute Valley School District in Forks.
Other incumbents who have filed include Richard Houts for Clallam-Jefferson County Fire District commissioner, Ronald Garrison for Brinnon Fire District commissioner, Jim Stehn for Queets Fire District commissioner, Kathy Dickson for West Jefferson County hospital commissioner and Anthony DeLeo for East Jefferson County hospital commissioner.
Two people have filed to challenge incumbent Walter Johnson on the Sequim School Board: Richard L. Fleck, 70, and Stephen Rosales, 53. Incumbents John Bridge, board president, and Sarah Bedinger both have filed for re-election.
Daniel Carlson has filed for the Brinnon Water District.
Gary Elmer and Jillian Coyle have filed for separate positions on the Coyle/Thorndyke Parks & Recreation District.
Michael Hayward has filed for a position on the Coyle Water District.
Vernon Good has filed for the Paradise Bay Water District.
For an up-to-the-minute list of candidates filing for office in Jefferson County, visit http://tinyurl.com/nhow2a.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
