U.S. House hopefuls face off at forum Monday; other candidates, initiatives subjects at other gatherings

Published 12:18 am Sunday, September 26, 2010

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, a Belfair Democrat, and his Republican challenger, Doug Cloud, will face off at a candidate forum hosted by Concerned Citizens of Clallam County on Monday.

The forum will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St.

Dicks, 69, has represented the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula, for 33 years.

Cloud, 53, is a Gig Harbor attorney.

The two are on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County has announced four upcoming political forums on issues and candidates voters will consider Nov. 2.

The forums are:

• Wednesday — Pros and cons of proposed tax initiatives 1053, 1098 and 1107.

The forum will be at 7 p.m. at the Senior Services and Community Center, 328 E. Seventh St., Port Angeles.

• Monday, Oct. 4 — Clallam County commissioner, director of Community Development and county treasurer candidates.

The forum will be at 7 p.m. in the Clallam County commissioners meeting room, Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles:

Incumbent Mike Doherty, 67, a Port Angeles Democrat, is challenged by Republican Robin Poole, 61, a UPS driver living in Beaver, for the District 3 county commission seat.

Incumbent John Miller, 61, of Port Angeles, faces Carlsborg resident Sheila Roark Miller, 51, a county code compliance officer, for the Clallam County Community Development director seat. The two are not related.

Incumbent Judith Scott, 59, is challenged by Selinda Barkhuis, 48, of Port Angeles, a county development planner, for her county treasurer’s post.

• Saturday, Oct. 9 — Candidates for District 24 seats in the state House of Representatives,

The forum will be at 2 p.m. in the Port Angeles City Council chamber, 321 E. Fifth St.

Incumbent Kevin Van De Wege, 35, a Democrat from Sequim, who is a firefighter and paramedic, is challenged by Republican Dan Gase, 56, a real estate managing broker and consultant, for Position 1.

Republican Jim McEntire, 60, of Sequim, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner and a retired Coast Guard captain, and Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, 61, a Sequim Democrat, are vying to replace Democrat Rep. Lynn Kessler, a Democrat, who is retiring this year from Position 2.

• Wednesday, Oct. 13 — Clallam County prosecuting attorney candidates and the pros and cons of Initiative 1082

The forum will be at 7 p.m. at the Sequim Senior Activity Center, 921 E. Hammond St.

Republican Deb Kelly, 57, of Port Angeles, is seeking a third term as prosecuting attorney.

Democrat Larry Freedman, 72, is a Sequim attorney.

The forums announced by the League of Women Voters are co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women, KONP, The Sequim Gazette and the Sequim Senior Activity Center.