Clallam candidates drop out after filing

PORT ANGELES — Filing week for the Nov. 7 general election ended Friday, but some candidates are still dropping out while others are needed.

Just days after filing as candidates, three potential officeholders withdrew their names from contention Monday, the day set aside by state law for candidates to bow out.

In addition, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office will hold a special three-day filing period from Tuesday, May 30, through Thursday, June 1, for offices for which no candidates filed by Friday.

Dan Nelson withdrew from the Sequim School District Director 2 election, leaving candidates Brian Kuh and Jon Kirshbaum to vie for the position in the general election and eliminating the three-way race that had meant it would be seen on the Aug. 1 primary ballot.

Also leaving were Port Angeles-area Fire District 2, Position 1 candidate Neck Gear, which still left incumbent Tom Martin and challengers Allen Hunt and Patricia Reifenstahl in the primary.

John Lewis also withdrew his candidacy for the Sequim-area Sunland Water District, Position 1 commissioner seat, leaving it to Gary Fortmann, now the lone contender for the position.

Now, primary election races are set for Port Angeles City Council, Positions 1 and 2’ Forks City Council, Position 3’ Port Angeles-area Fire District 2, Position 1 commissioner; and Sequim-area Fire District 3, Position 2 commissioner.

Seats for which no candidates have filed are Cape Flattery School District, Director District 1, and Forks-area Fire District 1, Positions 2 and 5.

During the extended filing period, candidates can file online around-the-clock from 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, until 4 p.m. Thursday, June 1, via the Clallam County elections website at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-LateFile.

Candidates also can file in person from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays at the county Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.