PORT TOWNSEND — Ten additional candidates had filed for seats in the Nov. 2 general election in Jefferson County as of mid-afternoon Wednesday, raising the total to 33 candidates who have filed for 29 positions out of the 46 that will be on the ballot.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, three contested races had shaped up: those for Port Ludlow Fire District No. 3 Position 3 commissioner, the at-large Position 4 seat on the Sequim School Board and Sequim-area Fire District 3 Position 1 commissioner.
The candidate filing period, which began Monday, will continue until 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Incumbent Ron Helmonds and Glenn T. Clemens will vie for Position 3 on the Port Ludlow Fire District No. 3 board.
The Sequim School Board races include Rachel Tax, Derek Huntington and Virginia R. Sheppard seeking the at-large Position 4 seat, and Patrice Johnston running for the District 2 seat.
Jeff Nicholas and Duane Chamlee are candidates for Position 1 on the commission of the Clallam County Fire District 3, which covers a small part of Jefferson County.
Incumbent Sandra Wells-Kalama seeks reelection to the at-large Position 5 seat of the Queets-Clearwater School Board.
Mike Aman has filed to run for the District 2 position of the Chimacum School Board, while Roxanne Hudson seeks the District 1 position on the board.
Incumbent Deborah Stinson hopes to be reelected to the fire commissioner District 5 seat of East Jefferson Fire Rescue, while Steve Craig is running for the District 3 seat.
Incumbent Melody Bacchus seeks re-election to the fire commissioner District 2 seat of Quilcene Fire District.
Incumbent Tony Romberg is running for reelection to the fire commissioner Position 5 seat of Forks Fire District 1.
Incumbent Diane (Movius) Martin has filed for reelection for commissioner, Position 2, of the Gardiner Cemetery District No. 3.
Incumbent Laurie K. Neuenschwander seeks reelection to the Position 1 seat on the Quilcene Cemetery District No. 2 commission.
Dennis Schmitt is running for commissioner, Position 2, and incumbent Larry Robinson seeks reelection to commissioner, Position 3, of the Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District No. 1.
Justin Matheson has filed for Position 3 and Richard Moore for Position 1 for the Brinnon Fire District commission.
Candidates who have filed earlier this week in other races can be found at https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/politics/more-hopefuls-announce-for-jefferson-county-public-office.
Candidates can register online, by mail or in person, said Quinn Grewell, Jefferson County election coordinator.
Filing is available online 24 hours a day during the filing period at https://voter.votewa.gov/candidatefiling/candidatelogin.aspx.
Candidates must be registered to vote in their districts, provide a valid email address and pay filing fees.
When filing by mail, candidates must send the candidate declaration and filing fee to Jefferson County Elections, P.O. Box 563, Port Townsend, WA 98368. The documents must be in the county Auditor’s Office by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Grewell said.
Declaration of Candidacy forms and filing fee information can be found at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1268/For-Candidates.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grewell discourages people from registering in person, but appointments are available by calling 360-385-9119 or 360-385-9117.
Seats are open on the following boards in both Clallam and Jefferson counties: Sequim school, Quillayute Valley school, Forks Fire District, Clallam County Fire District 3.
Seats are open on the following boards in Jefferson County only: Port Townsend City Council; Port of Port Townsend; Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene, Brinnon and Queets-Clearwater School Boards; Jefferson Healthcare Hospital; West Jefferson County Hospital District 1; East Jefferson Fire Rescue; Quilcene, Port Ludlow, Brinnon, Discovery Bay and Clearwater fire districts; Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District; Paradise Bay and Brinnon water districts; Brinnon, Gardiner and Quilcene cemetery districts.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The nighttime closure of the Hood Canal Bridge has necessitated earlier deadlines to allow the Peninsula Daily News to get printed newspapers back from the press in Everett in time for delivery this morning. That means all filings on Wednesday may not be included in this story. They will be picked up on Thursday for Friday’s paper. An overnight closure of the bridge also is planned tonight.