With candidate filing complete, a number of incumbents will face challengers later this year for political positions throughout Clallam County.
That includes Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire of Sequim, who announced he’d seek re-election for his District 1 position (east end) on May 12.
He’ll be faced by Mark Ozias, Sequim Food Bank executive director, who filed for the position two days later, and Bryan Frazier, a Carlsborg resident and former small business owner and community organizer.
When he was sworn in as county commissioner four years ago, McEntire “promised that his focus would be on the economic advancement of the county” and “has an excellent record of doing all those things,” the candidate said in a press release this week. “That is what Clallam County voters can expect for the next four years.”
Ozias listed three priorities in running for the commissioner position in a press release he distributed last week: growing Clallam County’s economy, fostering an atmosphere of communication, collaboration and community-building; and engaging citizens to ensure transparency and open government.
Frazier helped found the 501(4)C Citizens For the Preservation of Carlsborg Community Action Group. He said he’s running for the position because “Clallam County can achieve better solutions to simple and complex issues when the citizens are listened to and fully involved before making decisions that affect the quality of life in the county.”
County Commissioner Mike Chapman announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election before his term expires at the end of 2016, according to the Peninsula Daily News.
For more about Clallam County elections, see www.clallam.net/elections.
Sequim City Council
Sequim mayor Candace Pratt is seeking re-election, having filed for her Sequim City Council position No. 7, seeking another four-year term. She’ll run against challenger James Russell.
Also running for re-election is Ken Hays in position No. 6; he’s running unopposed. He served as Sequim’s mayor from 2010-2013.
Brandon Janisse, who opposed incumbent Ted Miller for City of Sequim Council position No. 3 in 2013, is running for council position No. 1 against Pam Leonard-Ray, Dungeness Health & Wellness Clinic’s executive director and volunteer program coordinator for the City of Sequim. Incumbent Erik Erichsen did not file for re-election.
Erichsen, who was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, said he believes in term limits and that’s one reason he’s not running.
“Two terms is enough for anybody,” Erichsen said. “Plus I have a life and I have other things I want to do.”
In his tenure, Erichsen said he’s proud of his time on city council.
“We brought in Steve (Burkett) as city manager and he has really turned the city around,” Erichsen said. “He’s got it acting on a better business plan. I feel comfortable in leaving. It’s maintaining itself now.”
John Miller, who ran for city council in 2011, has filed for Sequim City Council position No. 7, as has Sequim resident Susan Lorenzen. Lorenzen was elected in 2007 and served from 2008-2011 but decided not to run again to attend to family matters.
Position No. 7 incumbent Laura Dubois, former mayor of Sequim, did not file for re-election. Like Erichsen, she was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011.
Dubois, who served as mayor and mayor pro tem for two years each, said her eight years of service was a great opportunity and she enjoyed it.
“But it’s time for someone else to take a turn,” she said. “I’m glad Susan Lorenzen is running again and I’m glad there’s some competition (John Miller).”
Dubois said she’s most proud of the work on the Civic Center.
“We’ve done a lot to get a unified look downtown,” she said. “I think it’ll be a great place to come and for people to enjoy themselves and come and do some shopping.”
Sequim School Board
Filing for Sequim School Board’s District 1 position to challenge incumbent Heather Jeffers are three candidates: Rebecca Bratsman, Robin Henrikson and Willard Naslund.
Filing for the board’s District 5 at-large position — now held by Walter Johnson — are three candidates: Charles Meyer, Will Payne and Heather Short. Johnson did not file for re-election.
Jim Stoffer, president of the Citizens for Sequim Schools, and Charla Wright are running for the director District 3 seat held now by John Bridge, who declined a bid for re-election.
SARC, MPD positions
There are three commissioner positions open for the Clallam County Park/Recreation District 1 (SARC).
Incumbents Melinda Griffith (Position No. 3) and Jan Richardson (Position No. 5) are running unopposed.
Position No. 4 incumbent Gil Goodman has filed, as has challenger Bill Jeffers.
In April, a citizens group called Citizens for SARC proposed the creation of a metropolitan park district and on May 15 the petition was declared sufficient and will be placed on the Aug. 4 primary ballot. To elect five commissioners for the park district, a five-day special filing period is set for May 26-29 and June 1. But the election of park commissioners will be null and void if the metropolitan park district is not approved by voters.
Other positions
All three incumbents for open Hospital District 2 commissioner positions — J. Thomas Oblak, Jim Cammack and Jim Leskinovitch — have refiled with no challengers.
Fire District 3 (Sequim) commissioner G. Michael Gawley is running for another six-year term against challengers Sean Ryan and Alan Slind.
Connie Beauvais, vice chairman of the Clallam County Planning Commission and 2015 Charter Review commissioner, announced her candidacy for the Port of Port Angeles’ District 3 position, as did Port Angeles City Council member Lee Whetham, Port Angeles resident Rick (Doc) Robinson and Forks resident Michael Breidenbach. Incumbent commissioner John Calhoun announced he wouldn’t run for re-election.
Election tidbits
Election filing week ended Friday, May 15. This is an “off-year” election, with no congressional or statewide races on the ballot and only one legislative contest: a special 30th District, House Position 2 race to complete the unexpired term of Rep. Roger Freeman, who died last October.
There are 15 state offices open for filing. The other 13 offices, a Court of Appeals position in King County and 12 single-county Superior Court races, will be filed with the counties.
There are about 3,350 local races up for election throughout the state this year, according to the Secretary of State office.
