PORT TOWNSEND -Frank Benskin’s sudden withdrawal from the Port of Port Townsend District 1 commissioner’s race on Friday caught departing port Commissioner Bob Sokol by surprise.
The withdrawal also causes confusion in the August primary election because Benskin’s name will remain on the ballot.
Sokol threw his support behind Benskin last month when Sokol announced he would pull out of the race for a fourth term on the three-member port commission.
In an e-mail early Friday morning to the news media and supporters, Benskin cited “personal reasons” for his decision.
That was all.
Contacted Friday night, Benskin, a 59-year-old county building inspector and Port Townsend city councilman, said:
“I’m not trying to be evasive, but I just don’t care to elaborate on that.
“I just decided this week, – and it has nothing to do with Friday the 13th.”
Benskin, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, said he wanted to have a closer relationship between the city and port – and that his familiarity as a city councilman with the three port commissioners and port staff made him the perfect choice for Sokol’s seat.
Sokol shrugged off Benskin’s withdrawal.
“I don’t really know what is all behind it,” said Sokol.
“He didn’t talk to me about it. It came out of the blue, so I guess it was a surprise.”
Sokol reiterated that his June 14 withdrawal – after announcing that he would seek a fourth four-year term – came only after he thought one candidate might skate through to a port seat.
“I didn’t want just one person to step up and walk in. I wanted it to be a race.”
Remaining in the race are Forrest Rambo, 61, former Port Townsend city councilman and former mayor, and John Collins, 70, a retired Seattle University professor and treasurer of the Northwest Maritime Center board of directors.
Rambo said on Saturday:
“I just wish that if he [Benskin] wasn’t serious about running earlier that he had withdrawn earlier.
“But, things happen. People’s situations change.”
Rambo said this was the third time that he has run a race in which another candidate withdrew too late to keep his name off the ballot.
The first two times were Port Townsend City Council races.
“I guess I’m used to it,” he said.
Rambo said that Benskin’s withdrawal permits the two remaining candidates more time to map out their stands during upcoming candidate forums.
“My focus is on talking to people and letting them know where I stand,” he said.
“The other names on the ballot are not that important to me.”
Collins said when he learned of Benskin’s withdraw, “I was surprised. I had had no indication he was thinking of that.
“Obviously it puts more focus on the general election.”
