With the first filings posted Friday several more races became contested.
Bainbridge Island’s Council District 5 is now a three-way race and will be listed in the primary, unless someone withdraws by Monday. Wayne Roth is the latest to file in the Central Ward race, joining John Green and Arlene Buetow.
School district races became contested in droves. In Bremerton Wendy Stevens joined the Position 4 race and will run against Alyson Rotter. On Bainbridge Island incumbent Mike Spence will run against challenger Dale Perry in District 2. In North Kitsap Beth Worthington filed to run against incumbent Ken Ames. And in Central Kitsap Carrie Riplinger is running against Eric Greene.
Online filing ends at 4 p.m. In-person filing ends at 5 p.m.
Based on rumors I’m hearing, we could be in for at least one big surprise by the end of the day. If not, that’s why they call them “rumors.”
Noon update: Kim Punt signed on to run for Port Orchard City Council against Bek Ashby for Position 2. The rest of the new ones are in port or water districts. More to come!
2 p.m.: Dee McComb’s addition to the District 3 South Ward race on Bainbridge Island creates another three-way council race. In Bremerton Leslie Daugs filed to run in District 2. So far she’s unopposed. In District 5 Diedre McKeel filed to run against Dino Davis. Both would be newcomers.
The North Kitsap School District has a three-candidate race. Incumbent Ken Ames and challenger Beth Worthington will be joined by Doug Prichard in the primary race.
3:25 p.m.: South Kitsap took control of the news this last hour. Eric Gonnason signed up to run against incumbent Jerry Childs for the Port Orchard City Council at-large seat. Chris Lemke of the South Kitsap School District’s board will get a challenge from Jeff Lakin. On Bainbridge Island Dick Haugan will run against Val Tollefson for a council seat
The most notably unopposed candidates so far remain the two mayors up for re-election. It all ends at 4 p.m. for online filers. In-person filers get until 5 p.m.
4:35 p.m.: A third candidate in Bremerton’s District 5 council race filed at 4:04 p.m. Keith Ranburger will join Deidre McKeel and Dino Davis in the primary.
We are not quite done. Online filers are, but people can still race to the elections office in Port Orchard and file in person. Unless something happens in the next 20 minutes, the mayors of Bremerton and Poulsbo will remain unopposed.
4:50 p.m.: Something did happen. The long-rumored candidacy of Todd Best turned out to be true. He is running for Bremerton mayor against incumbent Patty Lent.
In Port Orchard Jerry Childs got another opponent, Jeff Braden, who joins Eric Gonnason.
Good for you Wendy!
@ Steven, rumors are not always the “BEST” sources. LOL
@Colleen, I’ve already seen one rumor debunked, but not the one you’re referencing. 😉
Steven Gardner
Kitsap Sun
Not surprising. There are many out there today.
There are still a couple of career “run for’s” that never win, but enjoy the perpetual candidate spotlight that any quilifying open position provides who are still out there on the lose today. You never know.
The May 31st deadline for withdraw can be just as interesting.
Candidates have to withdraw by Monday, this coming Monday, to have their names removed from the ballots.
Steven Gardner
Kitsap Sun
Did that change, I thought I read where they had 10 days?
Of course they can withdraw anytime its just their names still appear.
Actually, I think I know who might throw in today just so Patty does not run unapposed and a provide a chance of some questions she is not going to like being brought in a debate situation that would not occur if she was unapposed. Just a couple more hours to see if I am right.
Nope. Not who I thought.
I will be fully supporting Patty Lent for Mayor in this election.
After Dave Fergus and Todd Best’s attempt to steal glory from true heros and victims of the September 11, 2001 murders, I certainly will not be voting for him, does not mean I’ll be supporting Patty Lent either
Colleen Smidt,
I must say that your comment, “…a couple of career “run for’s” that never win, but enjoy the perpetual candidate spotlight…”, made me think of Kris Danielson (how many times has she run for office?) and that odd fellow from Bainbridge Island that keeps running but never gets elected. I guess it’s too late for them to file now.
And the tap dancing around the issues begins. Maestro, strike up the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, and cue the accordion player to play really loud !!!
Thanks Steve for the updates . I read where only 6 of the 21 positions in NK have races with two or more candidates . We have five positions where no one put their name up , and the mayor of poulsbo among other races have no opposition . The mayor job pays 68 thousand a year .
Always had a special respect for anyone who puts their name up to serve and be voted upon . That respect actually has grown quite considerably the past few years , political rancor has gone past what I consider healthy for our communities . Personal attacks , even atatcks on the family , just seem normal and part of the process. Who knows, maybe Civics will make a comeback .
BI seems to be having the biggest races that are causing some passion , the land use assed in a 4 to 3 vote , made the island the strictest in this stae . Been reading a whole bunch of emails in regards to this from property rights activists , organizations , and the BI news papers and media outlets .
Yikes I meant to say the land use “passed”. lol