PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Democrats have endorsed candidates in the primary election.
The 61 party members who gathered Tuesday night at the Quimper Grange put forth what County Chairman Matt Sircely called “an overwhelming preference” for three candidates with Democratic opponents.
Those are Steve Tharinger in the 24th District Position 2 race, Scott Rosekrans in the Jefferson County prosecuting attorney contest and incumbent John Austin who seeks re-election to the District 3 Jefferson County Commissioner seat.
Candidates in races with three or more hopefuls will vie in a top-two primary race Aug. 17 that will narrow the field to two candidates, who will compete in the Nov. 2 election, regardless of party affiliation.
“It won’t be an easy year for Democrats,” Sircely said.
“Our candidates are extremely strong, but we can’t take anything for granted.”
24th District
In the contest for the 24th Legislative District seat now held by retiring Rep. Lynn Kessler, Tharinger, a Democratic Clallam County commissioner from Sequim, received 58 votes from the Jefferson County Democrats.
Two votes were cast to endorse Montesano Democrat Jack Dwyer, a chiropractor who serves on the Montesano School Board.
Tharinger has said he will keep his current $63,502-a-year county commissioner position if elected to the $42,106-a-year seat.
Dwyer has said that he will resign his unpaid position on the School Board if elected.
In his statement Tuesday, Dwyer criticized Tharinger for his desire to hold two political offices simultaneously.
“If you have a legislator who is also a county commissioner from one of the counties that he represents the other county will not get the representation it deserves,” Dwyer said.
Tharinger said that he could do both jobs simultaneously.
Two other candidates for the positions — Jim McEntire of Sequim and Larry Carter of Port Ludlow — are Republicans.
The group also endorsed Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, who is challenged by Republicans Craig Durgan of Port Ludlow and Dan Gase of Port Angeles for his 24th District Position 1 seat.
Prosecuting attorney
The group favored Rosekrans, a Jefferson County deputy prosecutor, to take over as prosecuting attorney and coroner from Juele Dalzell, who is retiring, casting 53 votes in his favor.
Seven votes were cast for his opponent, Port Townsend Attorney Paul Richmond — who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat against U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, in the 2006 primary but who listed no party preference for the prosecuting attorney position.
Richmond said the prosecutor’s office “lacked oversight” and should re-examine the cases that it tries.
He also said that his 20-year local residency was an advantage.
Rosekrans said the prosecutor position “is not a cookie-cutter job.
County commissioner
Austin received 58 votes for endorsement compared with two cast for Democrat Diane Johnson, a Tarboo Bay psychotherapist.
Also running for the seat is Republican Jim Boyer, a Port Ludlow builder.
The group also endorsed Sen. Patty Murray, D-Freeland — who faces 14 challengers, four Democrats — and Dicks, who has no Democratic opponent in the contest for his 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
The group endorsed unopposed incumbents Sheriff Tony Hernandez and County Clerk Ruth Gordon. Assessor Jack Westerman, an unopposed incumbent, may attend the July membership meeting and likely will be considered for endorsement at a later date, Sircely said.
The membership also considered both contested nonpartisan Supreme Court races, but did not endorse in the end, Sircley said.
