PORT TOWNSEND — On Friday morning, Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan seemed to be unopposed in his bid for a third term, but by the end of the day, two candidates had filed bids to unseat him.
That left only one county incumbent unopposed: Wayne King on the Jefferson County Public Utility District board.
The only other unopposed incumbents are two-term 24th District Democratic state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, who gets a free ride to a third term, and Democratic state Treasurer Jim McIntire of Seattle.
The filing period was Monday through Friday for positions that included two seats on the Jefferson County commission, a judgeship, a seat on the Jefferson County Public Utility District and all three positions for state Legislative District 24, which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
By the end of Friday, the judgeship and both commission seats had shaped up as races.
The first to file for Sullivan’s District 2 county commission seat — which includes Cape George, Port Hadlock and Marrowstone Island — was Tim Thomas, 41, owner of Bernt Ericsen Excavating, who decided to run because he feels the county environment could be improved for businesses and families.
Dan Youra, 67, a Port Hadlock resident who runs his own public relations firm, filed his candidacy just minutes before the 4:30 p.m. deadline.
Both are identified as preferring the Republican Party, though Thomas said he was not affiliated with the county party.
Youra said he filed with the knowledge and encouragement of Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Ron Gregory.
Sullivan, 60, is running as a Democrat.
All three candidates will be listed on the Aug. 7 primary ballot, with the top-two vote-getters, regardless of party, advancing to the Nov. 6 general election.
“I don’t like the direction the county’s going when it comes to family,” Thomas said.
“We need well-paying jobs and zoning. If they don’t change their zoning, where are we going to have our business? We are not zoned for growth.”
Thomas said he also was concerned about the schools, “things that pertain to some of the younger generation who grow up here and can’t live here and have to leave.”
Said Youra: “I think the voters deserve a change.
“I think they deserve a choice from the Democrat-controlled commissioners that we’ve endured for the last term.
“I want to focus on more jobs,” he said.
“I’d like to see more private sector involvement, more partnerships between the private sector and the public sector, and not just lip service.”
Youra said he hopes to develop tourism in the area, which he said has not been done successfully.
“We can do this very quickly,” Youra said of tourism.
“We can generate more revenue by promoting this area, and we can do this right away.”
On Friday afternoon, Youra drew the first position on the ballot, followed by Sullivan and Thomas.
Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson, 66, filed for another term Friday. He had declared his candidacy last week for District 1, which includes Port Townsend.
Johnson, a Democrat, will be opposed by former Port Townsend Mayor Geoff Masci, 64, a Republican, who had filed earlier in the week.
Masci had drawn the first position on the ballot and Johnson second.
There is also a three-way race for the Jefferson County Superior Court position, which is open because of the retirement of Judge Craddock D. Verser.
Keith Harper, 58, was endorsed by Verser and was the first to file.
Port Townsend attorneys Peggy Ann Bierbaum, 54, and Michael Haas, 51, filed later in the week.
Bierbaum drew first position on the ballot, followed by Harper and Haas.
In the judge’s race, all of those filing for the position will appear on the primary ballot.
Since there are three candidates, the top-two vote-getters will advance to the general election unless a single candidate earns more than 50 percent, at which time that candidate will assume the judgeship and a general election vote will not occur.
King, 71, of Gardiner has represented the southern part of Jefferson County on the PUD board since 2000.
He said he wants a third term representing District 3 — which includes the south end of Discovery Bay, Quilcene, Brinnon and the west side of the county — so he can see the electrical power transition process to its conclusion.
The PUD received voter approval in 2008 to provide electrical power and since then has worked on the switch from Puget Sound Energy.
Larry Carter of Port Ludlow also filed Friday as an independent to run against five-term 24th District state Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam, a Democrat.
The 24th District covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Carter ran unsuccessfully in 2010 for the seat now held by Democrat Steve Tharinger of Sequim, the 24th District House seat vacated when former House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler retired.
Tharinger is being challenged by Republican Steve Gale of Sequim, a political newcomer and former business owner from Bothell and Gig Harbor who said Friday he moved to the North Olympic Peninsula in January.
Ballots will be mailed to voters July 18 for the state’s top-two Aug. 7 primary.
Ballots will be mailed to voters Oct. 17 for the Nov. 6 general election.
See “Statewide, regional candidates file” on the home page for lists of candidates in state and congressional races in the Aug. 7 primary.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.
