Clallam voters league plans series of candidate forums starting Sept. 25 in Port Angeles

Published 12:01 am Friday, September 12, 2014

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County League of Women Voters plans three forums before the Nov. 4 general election.

The forums, free to the public, are Sept. 25, Oct. 8 and Oct. 13.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters Oct. 15.

■ The Sept. 25 forum will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the county commissioners’ meeting room, Room 160, at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.

It will feature candidates for District Court 1 judge and for Position 2 in the 24th Legislative District.

Running for the judgeship are District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter and challenger Cathy Marshall, manager of the Port Angeles office of the state attorney general and president of the Clallam County Bar Association.

Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat, is challenged by Thomas W. Greisamer, a Moclips Republican, as he seeks a third term representing the 24th Legislative District, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.

Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, who is running unopposed for the District 1 seat of the 24th Legislative District, is expected to be available during the question-and-answer period.

Information on candidates for Supreme Court Justice Positions 4 and 7 will be offered.

Candidates for the five District 2 seats on the Charter Review Commission will introduce themselves at the forum.

Each will give a two-minute presentation on qualifications and intended accomplishments.

In the general election, five charter review commissioners will be elected from each of the three county commissioner districts.

Those 15 people will review the county’s charter, which is its “constitution.”

They will serve for one year in the unpaid positions to review the charter, propose amendments or review public initiatives for amendments.

Proposed amendments will go before voters in November 2015.

Clallam County is one of six counties in the state that operate under a home-rule charter, unlike most Washington counties where procedures are dictated by the Legislature.

Seventeen candidates in District 2, the area between Boyce Road and Valley Creek in Port Angeles, are on the ballot for seats on the Charter Review Commission.

District 1 candidates introduced themselves at a league forum in Sequim in August. Thirteen candidates are on the ballot for that district, which extends from the eastern county line to Boyce Road in Carlsborg.

District 3, which covers the West End beginning at Valley Creek in Port Angeles, has 11 candidates.

They will be invited to the Oct. 8 forum.

■ The Oct. 8 forum will be hosted from 5:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. by the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center at 401 E. First St., Port Angeles.

The 6th Congressional District race and the contest for Clallam County auditor will be featured.

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat and native of Port Angeles, and Republican challenger Marty McClendon, also of Gig Harbor, are expected.

Also appearing will be Shoona Riggs, county elections supervisor, and Kim Yacklin, county Health and Human Services administrative coordinator, both of whom are seeking to fill the county auditor seat. Auditor Patty Rosand did not seek re-election.

Candidates for District 3 seats on the Charter Review Commission will introduce themselves.

■ The Oct. 13 forum will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Port Angeles City Council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

Candidates for county commissioner, prosecuting attorney and community development director will debate.

Port Angeles City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch, a Democrat, and Bill Peach, a Forks Republican, are vying for the District 3 seat vacated by Mike Doherty, who did not run for re-election.

District 3 covers the West End from west Port Angeles to the Pacific.

Bruch is a senior planner with the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.

Peach is a retired Rayonier Inc. regional manager for Clallam County.

Two Republicans are in a race for prosecuting attorney: appointed Prosecuting Attorney Will Payne and former Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark Nichols.

Payne was appointed prosecutor to fill the spot vacated by Republican Deb Kelly’s retirement in January.

Nichols resigned from the prosecutor’s office after Payne took office and was appointed as the county’s hearing examiner.

Sheila Roark Miller, community development director, is challenged by Port Angeles architect Mary Ellen Winborn for her seat.

At each of the forums, voters can fill out change-of-address forms.

The U.S. Postal Service does not forward ballots. Those who have moved must fill out a form at the county Auditor’s Office at the courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St.; online at the state secretary of state’s website, www.sos.wa.gov; or at any of the league forums.

Oct. 6 is the deadline for voter registration, address change and other updates.

For more information, visit www.lwvcla.org.