PORT ANGELES — One new candidate has filed for a county position open in the general election.
Former reality TV star Gabe Rygaard of Port Angeles is auditioning for Clallam County commissioner.
Rygaard filed Wednesday as a Republican to run for the four-year, Port Angeles-area District 2 seat being vacated by longtime Democrat Mike Chapman and also being sought by Democrat Ron Richards, a former commissioner.
There were no other new filings Friday for three judgeships open on Clallam County Superior Court, the three seats in the 24th Legislative District delegation and one position on the Clallam County Public Utility District board of commissioners.
Candidate filing week for the Nov. 8 election ends Friday.
Rygaard’s family-owned Rygaard Logging Inc. was featured on History Channel’s “Ax Men.”
The show has been canceled after nine seasons, History Channel spokeswoman Susan Ievoli said in an email.
“I’m kind of almost relieved over it,” Rygaard said Wednesday.
“It frees my time up to do other things like run for county commissioner and be a county commissioner, which I really feel like is on my heart to do right now.
“I have the integrity and personality to handle the job.”
Incumbent Superior Court Judges Erik Rohrer, Christopher Melly and Brian Coughenour also filed for their four-year positions.
Port Angeles lawyer Dave Neupert filed to run against Coughenour.
Neupert had applied for judgeship when Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Coughenour in 2015.
Clallam PUD Commissioner Will Purser also has filed for re-election to his six-year, Sequim-area District 1 seat.
Werner Buehler also has filed for the PUD position.
Four candidates have filed for seats in the 24th District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Danille Turissini of Port Ludlow, whose party preference is “Independent GOP Party,” filed for the four-year, 24th District state Senate seat occupied Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who is retiring.
Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, a 24th District state representative, also has filed for the position.
Chapman, the Port Angeles Democrat and Clallam commissioner, has filed to run for the two-year, Position 1 seat being vacated by Van De Wege.
Incumbent 24th District state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, also has filed for re-election to his Position 2 seat.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.