With the June 1-5 filing period for elective posts little more than two weeks away, non-candidate announcements dominate political news in Port Angeles.
Reflecting the mood of voters who replaced all incumbents who ran in 2007, Mayor Gary Braun and City Council members Karen Rogers and Larry Williams have announced they won’t run again for the council.
That leaves Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton as the sole veteran likely to run for what would be her second four-year term.
Sequim voters also opted for newcomers in 2007, yet the remaining veteran City Council members are undecided about running again.
Walt Schubert “picked up the papers yesterday [Wednesday]” and will file if “other credible people run,” he told me.
Bill Huizinga hasn’t made a firm decision, but said, “I’m contemplating it.”
Paul McHugh didn’t plan to file, but a need for “some balance on the council” has him giving it some consideration, he said.
In Port Townsend, voters retained all the incumbents who ran in 2007.
Seats up for election this year are those now held by Michelle Sandoval, who’s currently serving as mayor, and former mayors Catharine Robinson and Mark Welch.
Brent Butler took a job in Idaho and resigned from the PT council in April.
His unexpired term will also be on the ballot.
In Forks, contested races are rare and the incumbents are all undecided about re-upping.
“It’s still being discussed at the breakfast table,” said Nedra Reed, who’s enjoyed eight years as mayor, an unpaid yet nearly full-time position.
Reed hopes Patricia Mansfield — on the council for 17 years — and Bruce Guckenberg will each file for another four year term.
Two unexpired terms — one of which is currently open for appointment — will also appear on the ballot.
Recruiting candidates isn’t easy in a town of working people, busy with families, Reed said.
“We all struggle to provide essential services,” she said. “The council has a lot of input into that.
“Off-year” elections also feature school boards and posts on other special district commissions, such as fire, water, hospital, cemetery and parks and recreation.
Those positions are all nonpartisan and unpaid. (See www.secstate.wa.gov for list of offices.)
There are about 50 positions open in Clallam County, 39 in Jefferson, with some overlap as Sequim and Quillayute Valley school districts’ boundaries cross county lines.
Filing for local office isn’t nearly as expensive as the secretary of state’s Web site reported for Jefferson County this week.
Filing for one of the three open Port Townsend City Council seats will cost $60, not the $1,693 listed on the Web site.
School, fire, water, cemetery and recreation district posts all have no filing fee, despite the site’s listing of fees in the $1,500 range.
“I’m going to have to get online today to correct that,” said a shocked Karen Cartmel, Jefferson County elections coordinator.
The only partisan position on North Olympic Peninsula ballots this year is the Jefferson County sheriff’s unexpired term, with a $774.60 filing fee.
Filing fees for port commission seats are $20 for the Port of Port Townsend and $24 for Port of Port Angeles. City council filings cost $66 in Port Angeles, $18 in Sequim and are free in Forks.
By filing time, candidates should be able to obtain filing forms online, but the completed and signed paperwork must be brought to the courthouse, along with any applicable fee, said Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand.
Both courthouses now close at 4:30 p.m. People who like to file at the last minute will miss out if they wait until 5 p.m., Friday, June 5, Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge warned.
“We need people who are willing to serve because they love the community, not because they have a personal agenda,” Reed said.
“Voters should have a choice,” she said. “That’s the wonderful thing about this country.
“Even with our rough patches, we have the freedom to choose.”
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Martha Ireland was a Clallam County commissioner from 1996 through 1999 and is the secretary for the Republican Women of Clallam County. She and her husband, Dale, live on a Carlsborg-area farm.
Her column appears Fridays.
E-mail irelands@olypen.com.
