Election ballots began arriving in the mailboxes of qualified Clallam County voters on Wednesday, Oct. 20 for the countywide general election, which ends on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Clallam County election information is available online at wei.secstate.wa.gov/clallam/Elections/Pages/default.aspx .
In-person registering to vote ends on Monday, Oct. 31, and is available only at the Clallam County elections office in Port Angles at 223 E. 4th St., Suite. 1.
For voter registration information call (360) 417-2221, or (866) 433-8683.
Election results are scheduled to be certified on Nov. 29.
The top race in the election is for the Clallam County District 1 commissioners seat. Commissioner Steve Tharinger is currently completing his third term as a Clallam County Commissioner representing the first district. chose not to run and is currently serving in the Legislature.
Running for the District 1 seat are Linda Barnfather, a Democrat, who is State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege’s legislative assistant. Republican Jim McEntire, who is a Port of Port Angeles Commissioner, is running for the seat, too.
In the summer primary election, which tallied only voters in the District 1 Sequim area, McEntire received over 10 percent more votes than Barnfather. At a meeting in Forks held on Wednesday, Oct. 19 McEntire said despite his first place run in the primary, the results of the race, which is determined by a countywide vote, is still up in the air.
In the City of Forks City Council Position No. 1 non-partisan race, Juanita Weissenfels and Giancarlo Buonpane are the two candidates seeking to fill outgoing Councilman Gus Wallerstedt’s seat.
In the Council Position 4. seat, incumbent Kevin Hinchen is running unopposed. Incumbent Councilman Mike Breidenbach is running unopposed for Council Position No. 5.
Three incumbent Quillayute Valley School District Board candidates are running unopposed: Director District No. 1 Dave Dickson, Director District No. 3 Bill Rhode and Director District No. 5 Starla Daman.
Two Clallam County Fire District No. 1 (Forks) commissioners are running unopposed: Commissioner No. 1 Gerry Morris and Chet Hunt.
Four candidates are running unopposed in the Quillayute Valley Parks and Recreation District election. Board chair and former Forks mayor Nedra Reed is running for the No. 4 position. Also running is Don Grafstrom for the No. 1 position, Laura Huling for the No. 2 position and Gordon Gibbs for the No. 5 position.
Bill Drath and Roy (Spider) Wright are running for the Clallam County Fire District No. 5 Commissioner No. 1 seat.
Richard Chesmore is the sole candidate for the Clallam County Fire District No. 6 Commissioner No 1 (Quillayute Valley) position.
In the Cape Flattery School District 401 race all three candidates are running unopposed. They include Gregory Colfax, Donald Baker and Tracey Rascon.
Five statewide measures are on the ballot. Receiving the most publicity is Initiative Measure 1183. The wording on the ballot states: “This measure would close state liquor stores and sell their assets; license private parties to sell and distribute spirits; set license fees based on sales; regulate licensees; and change regulation of wine distribution.”
