PORT TOWNSEND — The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County and the American Association of University Women of Port Townsend will host four candidate forums this month.
Candidates will face each other in the Nov. 6 general election.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters Oct. 17.
The forums will be this Thursday, Oct. 11, Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 in different venues. Two races will be featured at the first three and one on the final one.
All forums will begin at 7 p.m.
Each candidate will have two minutes to present an opening statement. Candidates then will take questions from the audience, with two minutes to respond, before offering a closing statement, said Sheila Murphy, unit chair of the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County.
Here is the schedule:
• Thursday — Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum.
Noah Harrison, a Port Townsend attorney, and Mindy Walker, an attorney with Ramirez & Walker Inc., of Bainbridge Island and Port Townsend, seek the District Court judgeship, a non-partisan position. Longtime judge Jill Landes is not seeking re-election this year.
County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas is challenged by James Kennedy, a deputy prosecutor in Clallam County. Both are Democrats.
Renee Klein will moderate.
• Oct. 11 — Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive.
County Sheriff David Stanko, who filed with no party preference, is challenged for his seat by Detective Joe Nole, a Democrat.
Tom Brotherton of Quilcene and Dan Toepper of Port Ludlow seek the District 3 seat on the Jefferson County Public Utilities District commission. Longtime commissioner Wayne King is not seeking re-election this year to the non-partisan position.
Brandon Mack will moderate.
• Oct. 16 — Tri-Area Community Center.
Positions 1 and 2 in the 24th Legislative District — which covers Jefferson and Clallam counties and part of Grays Harbor County — will be featured.
Rep. Mike Chapman, a Port Angeles Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Jodi Wilke of Port Townsend for Position 1.
Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend, is challenged for the Position 2 seat by Republican Jim McEntire of Sequim.
Renee Klein will moderate.
• Oct. 17 — Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
County Republican Chairman Jon Cooke and Greg Brotherton — principal owner of Discovery Bay Village Store, Disco Bay Detour and Sea Change Cannabis — seek the District 3 seat on the Jefferson County commission, which is now held by Kathleen Kler, who is not seeking re-election. Both live in Quilcene.
District 3 includes Quilcene, Port Ludlow, Gardiner, Discovery Bay, Brinnon, Coyle and West Jefferson County.
