Potential candidates for public office have their pick among 92 nonpartisan elected positions that are up for grabs in Clallam and Jefferson counties during candidate filing week, which begins Monday and ends Friday for the Nov. 7 general election.
Almost every kind of position imaginable is available, from school board seats to the majority of city council positions in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Port Townsend.
There are no county commissioner positions up for election in either county.
There are, however, Clallam County-wide Port of Port Angeles positions held by Colleen McAleer and Steve Burke and two Jefferson County-wide Port of Port Townsend seats held by Brad Clinefelter and Peter Hanke that are there for the voting as part of three-person boards.
If three or more candidates file for any position, the race will be on the Aug. 1 primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters going to general election.
There are 50,806 registered voters in Clallam County, County Auditor Shoona Riggs said Friday.
Under state law, all city and town elections, and almost all district elections except for public utility and conservation districts, must be held on odd years.
“Odd years are always going to be huge,” Riggs said.
Clallam County
Forty-six offices are up for election in Clallam County.
They include four positions each on the seven-seat Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks city councils.
They also include seats on Forks Hospital District 1 and Port Angeles-area Hospital District 2 commissions; the Port Angeles, Crescent, Sequim, Cape Flattery and Quillayute Valley school district boards; Fire Districts 1-6; and county Park and Recreation District 1, also known as the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center.
Seats also are up for election on the West End-area Quillayute Park and Recreation District board and the Port Angeles-area Black Diamond and Sequim-area Sunland Water District boards.
The list of offices open for election and current office holders is available at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ClallamOffices.
Candidates can file for election to offices at the county auditor’s office at the county courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
They also can file online from 9 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Friday at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ClallamFiling.
If a position has a filing fee, candidates must pay in person at the auditor’s office or can mail in the payment, but it must be received by the auditor’s office by 4:30 p.m. Friday to be valid.
Jefferson County
Fifty-four offices are on the ballot in Jefferson County. Two Sequim School Board positions, two Quillayute Valley School Board positions, three Fire District 1 seats and one Fire District 3 seat are also on the Clallam County ballot.
Those districts are populated by residents from both counties.
Other open positions include seats on the Port Townsend City Council and the Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene, Brinnon and Queets-Clearwater school boards.
They also include seats on the boards of commissioners of East Jefferson County Hospital District 2 and West Jefferson County Hospital District 1.
There also are positions up for election on boards of commissioners for East Jefferson Fire District 1, Quilcene Fire District 2, Port Ludlow Fire District 3, Brinnon Fire District 4, Discovery Bay Fire District 5 and Clearwater Fire District 7.
Coyle-Thorndyke Park and Recreation District 1 and Brinnon Park and Recreation District 2 also have seats up for election, including five for Brinnon.
Seats are also open for the Paradise Bay Water District 1, Brinnon Water District 2, Brinnon Cemetery District 1, Quilcene Cemetery District 2 and Gardiner Cemetery District 3.
The list of offices open for election and the current officeholders is available at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-JeffcoOffices.
Candidates can file for election to offices in Jefferson County at the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse at 1820 Jefferson St.
They also can file online from 9 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Friday at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-JeffcoFiling.
If a position has a filing fee, candidates must pay in person at the auditor’s office or can mail it, but it must be received by the auditor’s office by 4:30 p.m. Friday to be valid.
They also can pay the fee online if they file online.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.