PORT ANGELES — Ballots for the Aug. 6 primary election should land in Clallam and Jefferson county mailboxes over the next couple of days, featuring federal, state and county races as well as ballot measures.
Under Washington’s top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in races with three or more candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 5, regardless of their political party.
In Clallam County, incumbent Randy Johnson is facing two challengers in the race for District 2 county commissioner: Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter and Anders Tron-Haukebo. Johnson was first elected in 2017 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2021.
Clallam County PUD District 3 commissioner Phyllis Bernard also is facing two challengers. Bernard, who was appointed to serve the remainder of the late Jim Waddell’s term that would have expired in November, is facing Kenneth Reandeau and Ken Simpson in the nonpartisan race. All three candidates reside in Port Angeles.
Election of Republican precinct officers for Port Angeles (112) and Sequim (402) also are on the ballot.
Clallam County voters are being asked to consider three ballot measures to fund emergency and medical services.
Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 2, which responds to calls from Deer Park to Lake Sutherland, has placed two measures on the ballot. Proposition 1 is a levy lid lift that would boost funding for its operations by increasing the current levy rate of $0.96 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50 per $1,000.
Its second, Proposition 2, is a 10-year EMS levy of $0.50 per $1,000.
Olympic Medical Center — Public Hospital District No. 2 — is asking voters for an increase in the levy rate for the first time since 2008. Its Proposition No. 1 levy lid lift would raise the current levy rate of $0.037 per $1,000 to $0.75 per $1,000.
OMC lost $24 million in 2023 and leaders say the increase will help it maintain its current level of service.
There are no resolutions on Jefferson County’s primary ballot, but voters will make decisions in two county commissioner races. In District 1, Port Townsend City Council member Ben Thomas is facing Heather Dudley-Nollette, deputy executive director of Bayside Housing & Services.
Democratic incumbent Heidi Eisenhour is running unopposed for the Jefferson County Commission District 2 seat.
In the race for U.S. Senator, incumbent Maria Cantwell, D-Seattle, led Dr. Raul Garcia, R-Yakima, 58 percent to 37 percent in a July 10-13 poll conducted by KING-TV, the Seattle Times and the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public. There are 11 total candidates in the race. Cantwell was first elected to the Senate in 2001.
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, has endorsed Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, D-Seabrook, for his 6th Congressional District seat that he is leaving after 10 years in office. State Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, state Sen. Drew C. MacEwen, R-Shelton, J. Graham Ralston, I-Port Angeles, and Janis Clark, R-Tacoma, also are running.
There are three races in state’s 24th Legislative District that includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and much of Grays Harbor County. Representatives serve two-year terms and senators serve four-year terms.
Five candidates are vying for the 24th Legislative District House Position 1 currently held by state Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, who is running for the district’s Senate seat: Adam Bernbaum, D-Port Angeles, Eric Pickens, D-Sequim, Nate Tyler, D-Neah Bay, Matthew Roberson, R-Port Angeles, and JR Streifel, R-Aberdeen.
Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend, faces two primary election challengers for his 24th Legislative District House Position 2 seat: Terry Roberts, R-Quilcene, and Forks City Council member Hickory Grant, a Republican. Tharinger was first elected in 2010.
Chapman, James Russell, D-Port Angeles, and Marcia Kelbon, R-Quilcene, are seeking the 24th Legislative District Senate seat, which is currently held by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Lake Sutherland, who is running for state Commissioner of Public Lands.
Van De Wege faces six other primary candidates vying to replace Franz as Commissioner of Public Lands. Lands commissioners serve four-year terms and oversee the state Department of Natural Resources.
Voters have a choice of 28 candidates for governor. Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement that he would not seek reelection for a fourth term elicited a wave of filings. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, D-Seattle, and former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Kent, are leading in the polls.
Among the other partisan offices on the ballot are lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general and insurance commissioner.
Chris Reykdal has three challengers in his election bid for the nonpartisan Superintendent of Public Instruction, a position he has held since 2017.
Four candidates are running for an open spot on the nine-member Washington State Supreme Court: Todd A. Bloom, Sal Mungia, David R. Shelvey and Dave Larson. Justices are elected to the nonpartisan office for six-year terms.
Voters can register online or by mail until eight days before the election (July 29) or in person through Election Day. Registration by mail needs to be received, not postmarked, by the eight-day deadline.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Aug. 6, either by hand, by mail or at one of the designated drop boxes located throughout Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Clallam County ballot drop box locations:
Carlsborg, 261461 U.S. Highway 101, near Sunny Farms and adjacent to Mill Road.
Sequim, at 651 W. Washington St., in the parking lot.
Clallam Bay, 16990 state Highway 112, in front of the Clallam Bay Branch Library.
Forks, 500 E. Division St., outside Forks City Hall.
Neah Bay, 1450 Bayview Ave., in front of Washburn’s General Store by the left totem pole.
Port Angeles, 223 E. Fourth St., three locations: in the elections voter registration office of the Clallam County Courthouse, Room 042; in the circular drive outside the courthouse; and directly across from the disabled parking area.
Sekiu, 15 Sekiu Airport Road, at the Clallam County Public Utility District drive-up lane.
Jefferson County ballot drop box locations:
Port Townsend, 1820 Jefferson St., three locations: in front of the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse; in the back parking lot; and in the auditor’s office.
Brinnon, 306144 U.S. Highway 101, Brinnon Community Center.
Quilcene, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, Quilcene Community Center.
Port Hadlock, 620 Cedar Ave., Jefferson County Library.
Nordland, 6633 Flagler Road, Nordland Fire Station.
Port Ludlow, 93 Beaver Valley Road, Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Center.
Forks, 2261 Lower Hoh Road, Hoh Indian Nation, in front of Tribal Police Station.
Forks, 219 Quinault St., Quinault Nation (Queets), in front of Queets Tribal Office.
Aug. 6, 2024 Primary Dates and Deadlines:
• July 17: Ballots mailed and drop boxes open
• July 29: Online and mail registration deadline.
• Aug. 6: Deadline for in-person voter registration or updates.
• Aug. 6: Primary Day. Ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m.
The 2024 online primary election voter guide for Clallam County can be found at tinyurl.com/3eesc592.
The 2024 online primary election voter guide for Jefferson County can be found at tinyurl.com/4nx9sd7s.
For information about the election, how to register to vote, update your information, get a replacement ballot or find the status of your ballot, go to votewa.org.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
