PORT ANGELES — Sen. Derek Kilmer, who is running for the 6th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Norm Dicks, plans to open a North Olympic Peninsula office in Port Angeles.
The office will be in the Clallam County Democratic Party headquarters, which will open at 124 W. First St., Suite A.
“It is very important for me to engage this neck of the woods in this pivotal campaign,” said Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat who grew up in Port Angeles, in a statement.
“That’s why I’m opening my Olympic Peninsula office in Port Angeles on June 1 and have already hired a local community member to staff that office full-time.”
Matthew Randazzo, Democratic Party chairman, will staff the office as Kilmer’s communications director and Olympic Peninsula director.
Said Chris Gregorich, campaign manager: “We want to make every effort to engage voters from the North Olympic Peninsula.”
Kilmer, the 38-year-old 26th District senator from Gig Harbor, is the only Democratic candidate so far for the 6th Congressional District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
He has been endorsed by Dicks, a Belfair Democrat who has announced he will not run again for the position he has held for 18 terms.
Republicans who have announced bids for the nomination to seek the post are Doug Cloud of Gig Harbor and Jesse Young of Tacoma.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman, who was elected for his first two terms in office as a Republican and as an independent in his third and most recent election, has endorsed Kilmer for the post.
Kilmer also has been endorsed by former state House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty and 24th Legislative District state Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger.
Filing week for the Nov. 6 general election is May 14-19. The top-two primary election will be Aug. 7.