PORT ANGELES — A race for Forks mayor has surfaced for the Nov. 7 general election as candidate filing week passed its midpoint Wednesday.
Tim Fletcher, who had filed for a Forks City Council Position 3 position Monday, withdrew from that contest and submitted his candidacy for the mayor’s slot being vacated by Bryon Monohon, who is not running for re-election.
Fletcher joins Position 4 Forks City Councilman Ken Ayers in the race for Forks mayor, a nonpaying position filled by the city’s top administrator.
Contested candidacies also surfaced for a Port Angeles City Council position likely to be thinned out during the Aug. 1 primary.
Mike French filed Wednesday for the Position 2 seat held by incumbent Lee Whetham, who submitted his declaration of candidacy for re-election.
Jake Oppelt reaffirmed Wednesday his intention to run for the position but had yet to file as of the close of business Wednesday.
The Sequim School District Position 4 seat being vacated by incumbent Michael Howe also became a contested seat Wednesday.
Nola Judd filed for the position, joining Brandino Gibson as a contender.
Kevin Hinchen, the District 2 incumbent on the Quillayute Valley School Board, also filed for re-election Wednesday, as did District 4 Quillayute Valley School Board member Ron Hurn.
A fourth candidate also entered the race for the Port Angeles-area Fire District 2, Position 1 seat held by Tom Martin, who has filed for re-election.
Patricia Reifenstahl filed online Tuesday night for the Fire District 2 position, joining Nick Gear and Allen Hunt in a race that will narrow to two candidates as a result of the Aug. 1 primary.
Dara Peppard also filed for re-election to Crescent School Board Position 5, while incumbent Gerald “Jerry” George of Neah Bay filed for another term in the Forks-area Hospital District 1, Position 5 seat on the Forks Community Hospital board of commissioners.
Forty-five candidates had filed for office as of Wednesday in Clallam County.
Candidates can file their declarations of candidacy at the county auditor’s office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday at the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
They also can file online 24 hours a day through 4 p.m. Friday at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ClallamFiling.
Regardless of how they file, candidates must pay filing fees in person or mail the fees to the auditor’s office so they are received by 4:30 p.m. Friday.
There are four positions each up for election on the seven-seat Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks city councils and two up for election on the countywide Port of Port Angeles board of commissioners.
There also are multiple positions open on Forks-area Hospital District 1 board of commissioners, the Cape Flattery and Quillayute Valley school district boards, Clallam County Fire Districts 1-6 and county Park and Recreation District 1.
Seats also are up for election on the West End-area Quillayute Park and Recreation District board and the Sequim-area Sunland Water District board.
The list of offices open for election and current office holders is available at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ClallamOffices.
A listing of candidates who have filed for the election through Wednesday is at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ClallamFilings.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.