SEQUIM — Two candidates have pulled out of a Sequim School Board District 1 race, but their names will remain on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.
Willard Naslund and Rebecca Bratsman said this week they will not run for the position now held by School Board appointee Heather Jeffers.
Naslund and Bratsman missed the May 18 withdrawal deadline, so their names will remain on the ballot.
Only races with three or more candidates are on the top-two primary race ballot.
Four candidates — two of whom have withdrawn — will appear on the Aug. 4 primary ballot for the School Board race.
Jeffers was named to the position in August 2014 to fill the unexpired term of Sarah Bedinger, who resigned in June that year.
While Jeffers automatically will run in the general election against Robin Henrikson, both will remain on the primary election ballot, giving one bragging rights as they proceed to the Nov. 3 election.
Bratsman said Henrikson is more qualified than she is and that she supports Henrikson for the position.
“There really isn’t enough difference between us to have really offered enough of a variety to voters,” Bratsman said this week.
“I just thought it would be better to turn my attention to other public services that I would be better suited for and spend a little more time serving in the community so I’d be more prepared if I wanted to run in a couple of years.”
Naslund said he would not be able to put the energy and time into the job if he won election to the four-year position.
“I have health issues that will keep me from doing an adequate job,” he said.
“My health situation is treatable.”
A second Sequim School Board race, for Position 5 director-at-large, will remain on the August ballot.
Heather Short, William Payne and Charles Meyer are running for the position held by Walter Johnson, who is not running for re-election.
They are among 16 active candidates on the Aug. 4 Clallam County primary ballot who are in races for Clallam County commissioner, Port of Port Angeles commissioner, Port Angeles City Council, Sequim School Board at-large Position 5 and Sequim-area Fire District No. 3 commissioner.
The top two vote-getters in each of these races will proceed to the Nov. 3 general election.
SARC measure
The ballot also includes a measure proposing creation of a metropolitan park district to support the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC).
In addition, it includes races among 13 candidates who are running for five metropolitan park district commission positions, all of which have at least two candidates.
If voters approve the creation of the new district, the top vote-getter for each position automatically wins the election and does not proceed to the general election.
If voters reject creation of the new district, the election for each position becomes moot.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
