The August Primary Election Candidates Filing Week opened on Monday at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 15, allowing individuals an opportunity to file to run for public offices up for election.
On the South Beach, positions up for election include Westport Mayor, two city council seats, three on the Ocosta School District Board of Directors, as well as commissioner seats in two fire districts, the South Beach Parks & Recreation District and the Grayland Water District.
As we went to press, the following candidates had filed:
Westport Mayor
Incumbent Westport Mayor Michael Bruce has filed for an unprecedented fourth term. Other filers for the position thus far include City Council member Rob Bearden and Jim Lang.
Westport City Council
Two City Council positions are up for grabs – those currently held by Pat Gardner, who is completing her second four-year term in Position 5, and Bob Parnell, who was recently appointed to complete the Position 2 term of recently deceased council member Bob Shelton. They have no challengers thus far.
Ocosta School Board
Three incumbent Ocosta School District Board members, Greg Miller, Debbie Carter-Bowhay and Duane Pegg, have filed for additional four-year terms. As we went to press, no challengers had filed.
Local Fire Districts
Fire District 14 in Ocosta Position 3 incumbent, Mike Clingen, has filed to retain his seat, with no challengers thus far.
David McLellan has filed to run for a 2-year unexpired commissioner’s term in Grayland’s Fire District 11.
Parks & Rec District 1
Grays Harbor Park District 1 in Grayland, whose commissioners manage the historic Grayland Community Hall and its surrounding grounds, has all five commissioner positions open for election. No one has filed as we went to press. Appointees Tom Jensen, Steve Hargis, Keith Zelepuza, Kristine Torset and Carolyn Barker currently hold the positions.
GH Water District 1
One 6-year position on the Grays Harbor Water District 1 commission in Grayland is up for election. Linda McLellan has filed for the seat currently held by Betty Singer.
Countywide races on local ballots
GH Superior Court Judge
Recently appointed Superior Court Judge Stephen Brown has filed to fill out the remaining year on former judge Gordon Godfrey’s term. So far, no challengers have filed.
Port of Grays Harbor
Port of Grays Harbor Commissioner Stan Pinnick of Hoquiam faces a challenge from Ocean Shores City Councilwoman Jackie Farra for the six-year, non-partisan post.
Primary ballot
Races that include three or more candidates will appear on the August 4 Primary Election ballot. The top two vote-getters in those races will advance to the General Election, regardless of political party affiliation.
If fewer than three candidates file or any position, that race will only appear on the November 3 General Election ballot.
