The Long Run: candidate forums
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Democratic Legislative candidates Mike Chapman (left) and Steve Tharinger [/caption]
Election news and commentary by Charlie Bermant
The last “normal” General Election took place in November 2018. Since then, technology and COVID conspired to transform the political process, changing how candidates interact with voters into one that can be more efficient but less personal. Today, Zoom meetings have defaulted as the way for statewide candidates and large organizations to reach the most voters in the most cost-effective way.
This is better for everyone except those who thrive on personal contact or spontaneous interaction. But personal contact is still possible. Multiple in-person events are planned in Jefferson County during this election season, even if they aren’t always announced ahead of time.
Read ahead for the times and places where you can shake hands with the people who seek to become your representatives.
Perennial candidate forum sponsor the League of Women Voters (LWV) is conducting all of its events on Zoom this election season. Candidates are never in the same room with the voters, or even with each other. LWV Jefferson County Unit President Angela Gyurko said that the centralized Zoom meetings reach a greater amount of people than in-person sessions. And while the LWV once had to sponsor multiple forums to enfranchise rural voters, a single event now makes the forum accessible to everyone in the legislative district.
After a relatively sleepy June, a plethora of local forums will increase as we approach the August 6 primary, where the top two prevailing candidates will appear on the November 5 General Election ballot.
Locally, there are only two primary contests: the Sixth Congressional District race between Democrats Hilary Franz and Emily Randall, Republicans Drew MacEwen and Janis Clark, and Independent J. Graham Ralston. Additionally, the Position 2 State Representative seat between Republican Matthew Roberson and Democrats Nate Tyler, Eric Pickens and Adam Bernbaum requires a primary.
According to their campaigns, MacEwen, Franz, and Randall will visit Jefferson County several times before the primary, even if these appearances aren’t yet scheduled. Franz spokesperson Eve Zhurbinskiy said, “For events hosted by the campaign, we typically reach out to our supporters and ask them to spread the word, and then do text and email blasts to local folks whose numbers and emails we have.”
This narrowcasting approach has a limited scope and does little for those who are not connected to a political party or are willing to share their email. But voters can turn technology to their own advantage, using search engines to find the names and issues important to them in order to zero in on relevant events.
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Republican State Senator Candidate Marcia Kelbon [/caption]
Races with only two candidates are for State Senate, Republican Marcia Kelbon and Democrat Mike Chapman, and District 1 Jefferson County Commissioner hopefuls Heather Dudley-Nollette and Ben Thomas. Both are Democrats. These races will become the most scrutinized in the long run between now and November 5. Multiple appearances, both alone and together, are planned.
Dudley-Nollette and Thomas will meet at 6 pm on June 18 at Blue Heron School, at an event sponsored by the Jefferson County Democrats, and at a July 2nd Rotary Club forum, which is only open to those personally invited by a Rotary member. A joint interview with KPTZ FM and the Beacon is expected to take place in July. The two candidates are also appearing at separate Indivisible Port Townsend events. Additionally, they will attend casual chats with the public at the Pourhouse, 2231 Washington St., sponsored by the Housing Solutions Network. Dudley-Nollette appears this Thursday, June 13 and Thomas next Wednesday, June 19. Both events take place from 4 pm to 6 pm.
While some voters crave an in-person debate, the event sponsors say individual events give the candidates more time to state their positions. Attending two events is more work, but it yields greater perspective.
This extended election period benefits everyone: The candidates can clarify their positions in relationship to each other, while the voters are better informed.
The League of Women Voters is sponsoring three legislative Zoom forums:
State Representative Position 1; Steve Tharinger and Hickory Grant, 5:30 pm July 9.
State Senator; Kelbon and Chapman, 7 pm July 11.
State Representative Position 2; Roberson, Tyler, Pickens and Bernbaum. 5:30 pm July 18.
Links to the primary forums, which can be accessed by computer, tablet, or phone, will be posted on both Leagues’ websites https://lwvwa.org/Jefferson/ and https://lwvcla.clubexpress.com/ in July. To submit questions write LWV24LDquestions@gmail.com no later than noon July 7 for the Position 1 and the Senate race, and by July 16 for the Position 2 race.
Indivisible Port Townsend (ptindivisiblehuddle.org) meets at 5 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Unity Center, 3918 San Juan Avenue in Port Townsend. This month’s meeting takes place Tuesday, June 11, with Attorney General Candidate Manka Dhingra and Dudley-Nollette. Thomas is scheduled to address the group on July 9, with hopes that representatives arguing against three ballot initiatives also appear.
The tone of Indivisible’s gathering is liberal Democratic with the purpose of defeating the Trump agenda, according to 24th District Democratic Chair Bruce Cowan. Jefferson County Republican Vice-chair Lisa Farr said she attends the meetings to learn about Democratic candidates. Republicans often decline to field a candidate, and Farr wants to know which Democratic candidates most align with GOP priorities.
The Jefferson County Democrats will hold their annual fundraiser on Sunday, July 21, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson is the headliner, with all the Position 2 Democratic legislative candidates confirmed, according to Party Chair Mary Gilmore. Candidates Tharinger and Chapman will presumably address the group. (The time of the event is not yet finalized, but will most likely begin at 1 pm, Gilmore said.)
Gilmore has extended invitations to congressional candidates Franz and Randall. He said that candidates often plan multiple events on a single day, and their appearances hinge upon their ability to move from one location to another.
While every candidate attending will give a speech, Gilmore characterizes the gathering as a social event where people can mingle with the candidates and ask direct questions. Smart voters will arrive early in order to maximize their mingling, he said.
The event is a fundraiser with a $75 admission fee. This can be a drawback for undecided voters who are unwilling to contribute to a party they do not necessarily support. As contributor names are disclosed, which could provide an embarrassing situation for any Republican who attends and contributes.
The Port Townsend Rotary has scheduled a forum at 12 pm July 16 at Fort Worden State Park. This event will include the county commissioner candidates and those for the Position 2 State Representative seat. Rotary spokesperson Catharine Robinson said the group will schedule another forum, most likely in October, when the candidate fields are narrowed down.
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Republican Gubernatorial hopeful Semi Bird [/caption]
The Jefferson County Republicans are also in the planning stages for several events. Gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird, who appeared at Port Townsend’s Pope Marine Building in May, has planned a similar event at the same location on July 20 (time to be determined). Kelbon will meet the public from 4 pm to 6 pm on Saturday, June 15, in a private residence at 91 Attitude Lane in Port Ludlow.
The Jefferson County Fair from August 18 to August 24 will be awash with candidates, both in their own booths and those of their party. Appearances will be unscheduled and the fair occurs well after the primary.
While voters bear a certain responsibility for tracking down campaign events, we at the Beacon hope that campaigns and event planners can make that job a little easier. If you know of an event, please go to https://tockify.com/tkf2/submitEvent/559156fb15ff4ae887e343cfe87a03c5 [you can shorten this] and enter the event’s details in our Community Calendar.
The primary election begins on July 18, at which time ballots will be mailed to voters, and in-person voting machines are installed at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
All photos by Charlie Bermant
Correction:
An earlier version stated that July 18th Rotary debate was open to the public. It’s only open to those invited by a Rotary member and it has been moved to July 2nd.
