The Long Run
Election news and commentary by Charlie Bermant
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State Representative Steve Tharinger is currently unopposed in his bid for an eighth term, but he expects a challenger to emerge during filing week. Beacon photo by Charlie Bermant [/caption]
Anyone who wants to run for public office has their chance next week, as candidate filing for this year’s election occurs from Monday, May 6, to Friday, May 10. However, those who haven’t yet declared their candidacy will be at a disadvantage.
Those filing will appear on the August 6 primary, with the top two prevailing candidates advancing to the November 5 general election.
Candidates can file online or in person at the auditor’s office at the Jefferson County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Filing online lacks the drama of in-person filing, but it is a better deal overall, according to Jefferson County Elections Coordinator Quinn Grewell. It is more convenient, as it can be done from home, and it saves the auditor the trouble of struggling to read a candidate’s handwriting.
While the auditor’s office has fixed hours, online filing is available around the clock, 8 am Monday to 5 pm Friday. To file, go to https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/candidates/filing-resources/file-office. Voting officials recommend that filers not use mobile devices on this link.
Filing week times and dates are consistent statewide and occur one week earlier than in the past. This has upended Port Townsend’s attention span. Up until last year, candidate filing week coincided with the Rhody Festival, occurring the second full week in May. So local journalists are not thrown off their game by having to cover disparate issues.
At this writing, two seats on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners have one candidate each. District 2 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour is seeking a second term, while local entrepreneur Heather Dudley-Nollette is hoping to succeed Kate Dean, who opted out of a third term. Both are Democrats.
Local Republicans are notably absent, with no declared candidates for either seat. Advance candidate announcements are unlikely. According to Jefferson County Republican Vice Chair Lisa Farr, who predicted that any emerging candidates would make their decisions known at the time of filing.
Candidates make their own choices about running, and pursuing elected office is a big commitment. Even so, a candidate who makes a last-minute announcement seems less committed to serving than someone who declares months or weeks in advance. Many last-minute filers jump in to offer voters a choice. Perhaps there is only one declared candidate, and a citizen wants to issue a challenge. This can be a good thing because it facilitates a debate. First-time candidates like Dudley-Nollette deserve an opponent in order to clarify their positions.
There is an escape hatch for candidates changing their minds, they have until 5 p.m. Monday, May 13 to withdraw their candidacy. So if two candidates file only to “provide a choice” one should back out in order to save the local jurisdiction the cost of funding the primary.
Unopposed incumbents are a different matter. This has happened twice in recent Jefferson County Board of Commissioners’ races; David Sullivan in 2016 and Kate Dean in 2020. Both had proven records. This could happen again this year in Heidi Eisenhour’s District 2 contest. She is not likely to draw any opposition from the Democrats, and she has received a tacit endorsement from local Republicans. Said Farr, “Sometimes we will support the least terrible Democrat.”
Eisenhour said her bipartisan support is due to her willingness to listen to positions from all her constituents and that she has sought advice from Democrats and Republicans alike.
It is not unprecedented for Republicans to run as independents or even Democrats in order to avoid what has become a toxic label. State Senate candidate Marcia Kelbon’s campaign poster deliberately contains a small red “R” in order to downplay her party affiliation. But Mike Chapman, her opponent, said the size of the letter doesn’t matter if a candidate has declared for one party or another.
Even as the local candidate pool is shallow, state legislative races are (mostly) contested. The open 24th District State Senate race is locked in, between Chapman and Kelbon. The District 1 Representative seat is the most contested, with three Democrats (Eric Pickens, Nate Tyler, and Adam Bernbaum) and one Republican, Matthew Roberson. This is the only local race likely to force a primary contest. Predictions are that Roberson will make the cut, with the Democrats battling it out for the second slot.
Position 2 Representative Steve Tharinger is currently unopposed, but he expects that a challenger will emerge during filing week.
Tharinger has endorsed Dudley-Nollette’s candidacy.
Click here for a real-time account of candidates who have filed. Technology permitting, the Beacon will post-filing news each afternoon next week.
Coming Up:
The Jefferson County Republican Party will hold its Lincoln Day lunch at 11 am Saturday, May 4, at the Port Townsend Elk’s Lodge, 555 Otto Street. The program includes State Party Chair Jim Walsh and Gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird. Tickets cost between $30 and $75 and are available at jeffgop.org.
Jefferson County District 2 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour is the only scheduled speaker at a May 14 meeting sponsored by Indivisible Port Townsend. The event begins at 5 pm at the Unity Center, 3918 San Juan Avenue in Port Townsend.
Those hosting political events should go to jeffcobeacon.com and enter the details in our community calendar.
