Jefferson: County commissioner candidates face Port Ludlow voters

PORT LUDLOW — Promoting a strong local economy as an antidote to the county’s budget woes was the message the majority of candidates for Jefferson County commissioner brought to Port Ludlow voters Thursday.

“We need to look at the financial shape of our county,” said Robert “Cougar” Garten. “We need to broaden the tax base.”

Garten is running against Barbara Brace and Wendi Wrinkle on the Democratic ticket for the District 3 position.

Ivan Hjelvik, Pat Rodgers and Stacey Thompson are running on the Republican ticket.

The Sept. 17 primary will narrow the field for the seat held by Richard Wojt, who is ineligible because his residence is no longer in the restructured district covering the south end of the county.

Thursday’s candidates forum, held at the Port Ludlow Village Council meeting, was the first time the six candidates have appeared together since formally filing their candidacies last week.

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The rest of the story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

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