The Long Run: Breaking bonus news

Election news and commentary by Charlie Bermant

Correction:
An earlier version of this stated, “County commissioners in Districts 1 and 2 are paid $93,847 per year, while District 3 earns $103,169.”

We have added, “All three districts will receive the higher amount after this year's election.”

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Port Townsend City Council member Ben Thomas is running for the open Jefferson County District 1 Commissioner seat. Photo by Charlie Bermant. [/caption]

For a minute, it appeared that local entrepreneur Heather Dudley-Nollette would be unopposed in her effort to succeed Jefferson County District 1 Commissioner Kate Dean. That changed Monday when Port Townsend City Council member Ben Thomas filed for the position, creating a two-person race.

If Dudley-Nollette was not challenged, she would advance to the November  5 general election and be elected by acclamation, which Thomas was unwilling to accept.

“Part of my decision was based upon the spirit of democracy,” he said. “It’s important that we don’t have a coronation. So I would almost do it for that reason. But stewing over this for two months, I was trying to figure out what's the right path forward for me, family, and also for the county. So this feels important to me for its own sake, to actually win.”

In March, Dean said she would not run for a third term. Dudley-Nollette announced her candidacy in April. Thomas and Dudley-Nollette are both Democrats; Republicans have struggled to find a candidate for the seat with no results.

Thomas, 52, grew up in Jefferson County. He has worked a variety of jobs, many in the fishing industry. He said he “did a lot of service work and random carpentry” over the years. In the early 2000s, he edited Vigilance, an alternative paper, subsidizing the venture with his own money. His family owns Eaglemount Winery and Cider; he helped move their business to the Palindrome. He’s worked as the winemaker for Port Townsend Vineyards since 2016.

If elected, he would pull back from his responsibilities as a winemaker, acting as a consultant until a replacement is found. He would resign his City Council seat, triggering an appointment process. Those interested in serving would apply to the Council, which would then appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term, which is up for election in 2025.

Thomas demurred when asked about the issues facing the county.

“I’m less of an issues-oriented person,” he said. My approach is more philosophical.  To me, the way we make decisions is more important than what the decisions are. It requires absorbing more input from the public than the average person in an elected position.”

Thomas said it is better to reach out to the public before a decision is made, rather than making a decision and having to defend it later.

“We need to find out who's not at the table and try to represent their voice as much as possible. We'll get less blowback down the line, and we get more buy-in. And I think in that case, you actually make better decisions overall because you can get some win-win scenarios.”

“My goal is making it easier to live here,” he said. “It’s hard for people to get started here; you have to already be middle class or wealthy in order to get something going.”

Thomas said the difference between serving on city council and the county board of commissioners has to do with depth.

“The county has a more deliberative process,” he said, “They build their solutions in response to the issues. It’s different for a seven-member body like the council. Council members come in with their minds made up, and it’s tough to get to the point where you can be listening to new information from your colleagues. And we’re a little less knowledgeable about the topics because we all have full-time jobs elsewhere. Commissioner is a full-time job; you get deeper into the subject.”

County commissioners in Districts 1 and 2 are paid $93,847 per year, while District 3 earns $103,169. All three districts will receive the higher amount after this year's election. While filing, Thomas was surprised by a nonrefundable $1,000 fee, which he put on a credit card.  “This means that I cannot back out,” he said.

Thomas expects a cordial campaign between himself and Dudley-Nollette. He hopes to attend sponsored debates and forums and perhaps create some of his own events.

“When I was running for city council (in 2021), we all worked together pretty well, so we were able to schedule a lot of events. I would love to find substantive ways of getting through this campaign in a way that's meaningful to the public rather than just yard signs.”

Thomas has the active support of his family, his wife, Claire Thomas, and (presumably) their five-year-old son.

“If it weren't for my wife, I wouldn’t be doing this,” he said. I would have backed out by now. I thought, wow, maybe this is too much, but she said, ‘No, this is your destiny. It’s what you were meant to do here.’”

On Monday, local candidate filings included District 2 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour, who is as yet unopposed. Superior Court Judge Brandon Mack and PUD Commissioner District 3 Dan Toepper also filed their paperwork. Both are incumbents, nonpartisan, and currently unopposed.

Filing week continues through this Friday, May 10.