PORT ANGELES — The candidate filing period for the Nov. 2 general election passed the halfway point Wednesday, as several political hopefuls made good on previous promises to run for public office.
Their entries also increased the number of Aug. 17 primaries in which more than three candidates have filed.
Those entering the political fray Wednesday included Clallam County incumbent Treasurer Judy Scott and County Commissioner Steve Tharinger of Sequim.
Tharinger has said he plans to keep his current $63,502-a-year commissioner position and run for a $42,106-a-year seat in the state House of Representatives being vacated by retiring Democrat Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam.
Democrat Jack Dwyer of Montesano joined Tharinger on Wednesday in filing for the Position 2 seat being vacated by Kessler.
Dwyer is a chiropractor who serves on the Montesano School Board. He has said he would resign his unpaid position if he were elected to the House.
Republican Jim McEntire of Sequim, a retired Coast Guard captain, and Republican Larry Carter of Port Ludlow, a retired Navy command master chief petty officer, also are vying for Position 2 in the 24th Legislative District, which covers Jefferson, Clallam and part of Grays Harbor counties.
McEntire, a first-term Port of Port Angeles commissioner, has said he would resign his port seat if elected.
Carter does not hold elective office.
For Position No. 1 in the 24th District, two-term incumbent Democrat Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, a firefighter and paramedic, is being challenged by Port Ludlow Republican Craig Durgan, a business owner and retired maritime engineer, and Port Angeles Republican Dan Gase of Port Angeles, a real estate broker.
Scott on Wednesday joined Department of Community Development Senior Planner Selinda Barkhuis in filing for the county Treasurer position.
Scott served in the Treasurer’s Office for 14 years as former Treasurer Ruth Gerdon’s chief deputy.
In the fall of 2004, the Clallam County commissioners appointed her to the position. In 2005, she was elected to serve the remainder of Gerdon’s term, and in 2006, she was re-elected to her current four-year term.
Barkhuis, who also is a non-practicing attorney, has said she is running in response to the theft of $617,467 from the Treasurer’s Office. Former Treasurer’s Office cashier Catherine Betts is accused of stealing the funds between Feb. 1, 2004, and May 19, 2009.
Said Scott: “I have been a good, responsive public servant. I have remained accountable and responsible even through adverse conditions.”
All elected Clallam County government positions — except for two of three county commissioner slots — are up for election for four-year terms.
All registered voters countywide can vote for those positions and a six-year Clallam Public Utility District Position 1 seat up for election.
Candidates must pay filing fees equal to 1 percent of the position’s salary.
The county prosecutor yearly salary is $121,887.
The sheriff position pays $82,195 to $90,728 depending on length of service.
The county commissioner position pays $61,117 to $61,267.
The assessor, auditor, treasurer and department of community development director positions pay $64,211 to $70,878.
The PUD position pays $21,600 a year and $104 a day for out-of-district business not to exceed $12,600 a year.
The following candidates filed through Wednesday for Clallam County, congressional district and statewide elective positions:
• Clallam County: Associate real estate broker Alan Barnard of Port Angeles on Wednesday became the only candidate so far to file for the department of community development director position.
Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Mike Doherty has filed for re-election, and Robin Poole of Beaver has filed to challenge him.
Scott on Wednesday joined Barkhuis in filing for the county treasurer position.
Incumbent Republican Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly of Port Angeles filed for re-election, and Democrat Larry Freedman of Sequim and Democrat Lauren Erickson have filed to challenge her.
Also filing this week have been incumbent Sheriff Bill Benedict of Sequim, incumbent District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter of Port Angeles, incumbent county Auditor Patty Rosand of Port Angeles, incumbent Assessor Pam Rushton of Port Angeles and incumbent District Court 2 Judge Erik Rohrer of Forks.
• Clallam County Public Utility District: Incumbent Will Purser of Sequim, who filed for re-election Monday, remained the lone candidate for Position No. 1.
• State Supreme Court (salary $164,221): Incumbent State Supreme Court Justice Jim Johnson of Olympia filed for re-election to his Position No. 1 seat on Wednesday. Challenger Stan Rumbaugh of Tacoma filed for Sanders’ position.
Incumbent Position No. 6 Justice Richard B. Sanders of Olympia had filed for re-election, and Charlie Wiggins of Bainbridge Island filed to challenge him.
Incumbent Chief Justice Barbara Madsen of Seattle is seeking re-election to her Position No. 5 seat.
• Congress (salary $174,000): Democrat Norm Dicks of Belfair, a 16-term incumbent, is being challenged by Republican lawyer Doug Cloud of Tacoma and Republican software engineer Jesse Young of Tacoma.
• U.S. Senate (salary $174,000): Incumbent Patty Murray, D-Freeland, filed for re-election. She is being challenged by Democrat Mike the Mover of Mill Creek, and Goodspaceguy, a Seattle Democrat.
Also filing were Republican Norma D. Gruber of Walla Walla, Republican William Edward Chovil of Tacoma, independent Schalk Leonard of Poulsbo and independent James “Skip” Mercer of Bellevue.
Candidates can file today and Friday at the elections office in the basement of the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In races in which there are more than two candidates, the top two winners — regardless of party affiliation or incumbency — who survive the Aug. 17 primary advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
If only two candidates file for any position by 4:30 p.m. Friday, both automatically advance to the November election.
Filings are posted online through the state Secretary of State’s Office at www.clallam.net.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
