Democrat Phil Johnson of Port Townsend will seek election as District 1 Jefferson County commissioner, ending months of speculation about who might challenge incumbent Dan Titterness.

Johnson, 58, filed with the County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday morning, hours after a news release officially announced his candidacy Monday night.

Titterness, the 54-year-old first-term Republican commissioner, was among the first candidates to file Monday morning. He had announced his re-election bid in March.

Filing for the fall elections opened Monday at the county courthouse and continues through Friday afternoon.

State and federal candidacy filings are conducted at the Secretary of State’s Office in Olympia.

Building designer

Johnson, a building designer and contractor, hinted in late June that he was considering challenging Titterness.

Jefferson County’s budget situation is one of the major reasons Johnson decided to seek office, he said.

“Jefferson County’s budget situation, described by both management and the current commissioners as an oncoming ‘train wreck,’ needs to be put back on track,” Johnson said.

“My question is, ‘Who’s been driving this train, anyway?”‘