Jefferson prepares to mail out more than 21,000 ballots

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, October 13, 2009

PORT TOWNSEND — Voters in East Jefferson County should check the mail for their primary election ballots by the end of the week.

Mail-in ballots — 21,401 of them as of Monday — will be mailed out of the county Auditor’s Office on Wednesday, said Betty Johnson, election specialist.

Ballots must be postmarked or returned to Jefferson County courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., by 8 p.m. general Election Day, Nov. 3

The ballots should reach county voters’ mailboxes by Saturday. If voters do not receive their ballots by then, they should contact the Auditor’s office at 360-385-9119.

Military ballots were mailed Sept. 30, Johnson said.

Jefferson County voters will cast ballots in two Port of Port Townsend commissioners races.

For the District 2 position on the Port of Port Townsend commission, incumbent Dave Thompson is challenged by Bob Schuessler.

Incumbent Herb Beck, port District 3 commissioner, is challenged by Leif Erickson.

For Sequim School District No. 323, which extends into parts of East Jefferson County, the District No. 2 race pits Jon Kirshbaum against Virginia O’Neil.

For the Jefferson Healthcare Hospital District Position No. 4 seat, it’s Kathy J. Hill challenged by Mari Dressler.

For Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20, director District 1, Lyle Pfeifle faces Sandra Wells-Kalama.

A Queets-Clearwater School District maintenance and operation levy of $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed valuation is proposed for each of three years to generate $75,000.

Also on the ballot are the statewide tax-limiting Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71.

Referendum 71 would expand the rights, responsibilities and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses.