Port Townsend City Council race picks up candidate

Incumbent highlights third day of filing week

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council election contests gained another candidate Wednesday during the third day of filing week.

Four seats are open on the council in the Nov. 5 general election.

Amy Howard, the incumbent in Position 6, filed for re-election. She joins David Faber, the incumbent running for re-election in Position 7, and Owen Rowe, a newcomer who has filed for the open Position 4.

Earlier this week, Monica MickHager of Port Townsend filed to challenge incumbent Deborah Stinson, the current Position 3 seat holder who also serves as mayor.

“I am running to change our City Council so it is once again responsive and welcoming to citizen input in this complicated and time-consuming work of governing our beloved community,” MickHager wrote in a statement.

“Running for a City Council position is something I have been thinking about for the last two election cycles (four years), and I have been preparing to campaign for Position 3 for this last year.”

Stinson said going to work on behalf of Port Townsend residents has been some of the most rewarding efforts she’s undertaken.

“While there are accomplishments I can recall from the last seven-plus years, my focus today is on the future,” Stinson said.

“The end of this term coincides with a significant transition to a new city manager, and such a change in administrative leadership calls for continuity in policy making leadership.

“There are several important issues and large projects in process that I want to see through, and I believe the experience I’ve gained and the relationships I’ve forged will yield significant contributions to successful outcomes.”

Others who filed for public office late Tuesday or Wednesday include:

Brinnon School Board: Mary Fickett, the incumbent for the unexpired two-year at-large Position 1. She will be challenged by Laura F. Beck. Also in Brinnon, Courtney Beck will challenge incumbent Joe Baisch for the at-large Position 3.

Quilcene School Board: Jenelle Cleland filed for the at-large Position 4.

Chimacum School Board: Tami Robocker will challenge Michael Raymond for the District 4 position. Raymond was appointed to the seat in January and is running in his first election.

Quillayute Valley School Board: Bill Rohde filed for re-election in District 3, and Mike Reaves filed for re-election in District 5. As of Wednesday afternoon, neither faced opposition.

• Port Ludlow Fire District 3 commission: Ed Davis filed for re-election of a six-year term in Position 2.

• Clallam-Jefferson Fire Protection District 1 commission: Giancarco Buonpane of Beaver filed for re-election of a six-year term in Position 4.

• Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District 1 commission: Richard Hull of Quilcene filed for re-election to a four-year term in Position 5.

• Brinnon Park and Recreation District 2 commission: Keith Beck filed for the Position 1 seat, a two-year unexpired term.

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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.

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