PORT ANGELES — Candidate filing in Clallam County is picking up speed, with several new names added since the first day and some races starting to take clearer shape ahead of this fall’s election.
The race for Clallam County Commissioner District 3 remains a two-person contest so far, with incumbent Democrat Mike French and independent Jake Seegers both filed.
Countywide offices are still largely uncontested at this point. Lee Hancock remains the only candidate filed for County Assessor, while Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols has filed for another term. Bruce Emery is also alone in the race for Director of Community Development.
There is still just one candidate filed so far for Clallam County Sheriff, with Brian King entering that race Tuesday.
At the state level, the 24th Legislative District continues to draw the most attention. Independent Ted Bowen has filed for State Representative Position 1. Meanwhile, the Position 2 race — being vacated by longtime Representative Steve Tharinger — is growing more crowded. Along with Democrats Patrick DePoe, Kaylee Kuehn, and Bradley Nemo Callaway, and no-party-preference candidate Marcia Kelbon, a new Democrat, Mark Hodgson, has now joined that race.
At the federal level, Washington’s 6th Congressional District race has also expanded, with Republican Teresa Fox now joining earlier filers independent Brian P. O’Gorman and Republican Leon Lawson.
Locally, the judicial races are set, with Alex Schodowski filed for District Court Judge in District 1 and Bruce Hanify filing for District Court Judge in District 2.
And Missi Baker remains the only candidate filed so far for PUD Commissioner District 2.
Filing week continues through Friday, and more candidates are expected to enter races before the deadline.