Four Sequim City Council and two Sequim School Board director positions will go uncontested this election cycle, while leadership positions for Clallam County Fire District 3, Hospital District and Port of Port Angeles see competition this November.
Filing week closed on May 9 with candidates wishing to withdraw until end of business on Monday, after the Gazette’s press deadline. If they do not withdraw, their name will appear on the ballot(s).
• Clallam County Fire District 3
Incumbent Bill Miano and challenger Mike Taggart will run for Fire District 3 commissioner, position 3, a six-year term.
Miano, elected in 2019, said one of the chief concerns facing the fire district is “how do we continue to meet the demand, and with what money?”
Since he’s served as commissioner, he said the district has seen a rapidly increasing demand for services, which is “handcuffed by the Washington 1 percent tax increase.”
Taggart, who is retired, has served as a fire commissioner in Clark County and in California. He also served as a volunteer ranger for the U.S. Forest Service for 25 years.
“I can bring a lot of experience,” he said.
• Hospital District seats
Incumbent Ann Marie Henninger and challenger Gerald Stephanz, Jr. are running for Hospital District 2 commissioner, position 1, a six-year term.
Stephanz, who unsuccessfully applied for position 7 when previous commissioner Phyllis Bernard vacated it in January, said his “views and experiences are a bit different than the current board of commissioners.”
As a doctor who ran his own practice in the past, Stephanz said he understands the business aspect of a practice. He also said he is concerned about the hospital’s finances and thinks Olympic Medical Center should try to maintain local control, if possible.
“I have the clinical, business and hospital experience that a lot of the hospital commissioners don’t have, and I think that will be helpful as we go forward,” he said.
Henninger, a registered nurse, wrote via email she’s “running for re-election because I want to continue to be an advocate for healthcare in our community.”
Tara Coffin and Carleen Bensen will run for Hospital District 2 commissioner, position 4, a six-year term. Bertha Cooper has withdrawn, and Laurie Force withdrew and refiled for position 7.
Bensen, who has lived in Port Angeles since 1992 and has worked with or for the hospital that whole time, said, “I feel like I know the area, I know the issues, I know the patients, and I want to make sure that we have a functional, good hospital for the people in the area.”
She also has advocated for healthcare policies at the state and national levels.
Coffin could not be reached for comment.
Incumbent Penney Sanders, Mic Sager and Laurie Force will run for Hospital District 2 commissioner, position 7, a two-year unexpired term. Corlene Eberle has withdrawn.
Sanders, who was appointed to the term in March after Bernard resigned, said she wants to complete the two-year term, “because I always like to finish what I started.”
Through the rest of the term, Sanders said the hospital will be making important decisions regarding alliances and partnerships and the financial stabilization of the hospital.
“One of my biggest concerns is ensuring that we have comprehensive care here,” Sanders said.
Force is a retired nurse practitioner who volunteers at the Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic. She said she is running for commissioner out of concern for the “severe financial strain” that Olympic Medical Center is facing.
Incumbent Paige Pearson for Hospital District 1 commissioner, position 1, a six-year term, is running unopposed.
• Port of Port Angeles
Incumbent Colleen McAleer and challenger Nate Adkisson, both of Sequim, will run for Port of Port Angeles commissioner, district 1, a four-year term.
McAleer said she plans to focus on the port’s future plans, including building stronger partnerships and leveraging opportunities.
“I’m proud of the work that the port has done over the last decade, but especially the last few years,” McAleer said.
Adkisson could not be reached for comment.
Incumbent Steve Burke and challenger Allen Sawyer, both of Port Angeles, will run for Port of Port Angeles commissioner, district 2, a four-year term.
• Sequim City Council
Incumbents look to retain their seats on the Sequim City Council, including two appointed councilors.
Retired City of Sequim employee A. Pete Tjemsland is the only newcomer running for position 3, a four-year term.
He previously sought being appointed to fill Kathy Downer’s seat earlier this year, but councilors selected Kelly Burger.
Tjemsland seeks Vicki Lowe’s seat who said in an interview he “is a great candidate.”
Lowe said her work as the executive director for the American Indian Health Commission has gotten very busy and is impacted by possible impending changes at the federal level and she didn’t feel she could give enough attention to her council and job duties.
“I will definitely keep my commitment through the end of my term but I need to choose one and that is work,” she said.
“I have really enjoyed my time on council. I ran to help make sure we have transparent government focused on Sequim. I have learned a lot.”
Burger is running for the two-year unexpired term along with fellow appointee Nicole Hartman for position 7.
Hartman was appointed last year to fill former Mayor Tom Ferrell’s seat after he resigned.
Both Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson, position 4, and Mayor Brandon Janisse, position 5, are running again for four-year terms.
Anderson was appointed in 2021 and later elected that same year, while Janisse was elected in 2017.
• Schools, parks, water
For Sequim School District, incumbent Patrice Johnston, elected in 2021, has filed again for Sequim School District director, district 2, a four-year term. Fellow incumbent Maren Halvorsen, appointed in February 2022 for Sequim School District director at large, position 4, has also filed unopposed for a four-year term
Also, unopposed are incumbent Frank Pickering for Park and Recreation Clallam County District 1 commissioner, position 2, a four-year term, and Gary Jubien for Water District Sunland commissioner, position 1, a six-year term.
See more elections information at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/162/Elections-Voter-Registration.
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Reporter Matthew Nash contributed to this report.
