Nearly 100 to vie for freeholder positions

Clark County now has 92 candidates vying for 15 freeholder positions.

With one day left to file, the number of candidates is nearly double that of the last time a freeholder election was held in the county.

That unsuccessful charter effort, which began in 2000 with the freeholder election, saw 52 candidates vying for 21 positions.

When Clark County commissioners approved this year’s freeholder election, the general sentiment on the board was that they believed public interest had risen to a level to actually pass a charter.

So far, folks in Clark County have proven the interest extends to at least the candidacy stage.

The filing period for Clark County freeholder candidates ends at 5 p.m. today if filing in person at the election office. If filing online, however, candidates have until 4 p.m. There is no filing fee to run for freeholder.

The candidates will face off in the Nov. 5 general election.

The freeholders will be tasked with drafting a home rule charter allowing the county to be governed by its own set of rules, as long as those rules don’t conflict with the U.S. or Washington state constitutions, or state laws.

The new charter must be approved by voters.

A total of 17 individuals applied for a spot on the November ballot between Wednesday evening and Thursday at 5 p.m.

One candidate, Keith E. Bellisle, dropped out of the race for District 1, Position 1, and entered the race for District 3, Position 3.

New filings include:

• District 1, Position 1: Vancouver resident Marlene (Korczakowski) Adams.

• District 1, Position 2: Brush Prairie resident Tom Lawrence.

• District 1, Position 3: Ridgefield resident and former State legislator Joseph Zarelli and Brush Prairie resident Tim Podhora.

• District 1, Position 4: Vancouver residents Norman Harker and Debbie Larner, and La Center resident Peter Silliman.

• District 1, Position 5: Battle Ground resident R. (Bob) Freund and Vancouver resident Sherry Erickson.

• District 2, Position 2: Camas resident Ken Kakuk.

• District 2, Position 5: Camas resident Bentley Brookes.

• District 3, Position 3: Vancouver resident Jeanne Schaefer-Ringo.

• District 3, Position 4: Vancouver residents Michael James Barry and Gene C. Ringo.

• District 3, Position 5: Vancouver residents James Taylor (Jimmy Tee), Jackie Marsden and Mike Yancey.

To see a complete list of candidates, visit the Clark County Election Department’s website at http://www.clarkvotes.org

Clark County is divided into three voting districts, and voters will each select five freeholders, depending on which district they live in. Candidates must be registered to vote, have a valid email address and have been residents of Clark County for at least five years.

Freeholder positions are nonpartisan and unpaid.

For more information, visit the election department’s website, call 360-397-2345, email elections@clark.wa.gov or visit the department at 1408 Franklin St. in Vancouver.

Erik Hidle: 360-735-4547; http://twitter.com/col_clarkgov; erik.hidle@columbian.com