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.
