Candidate filing week kicked off in Washington state on Monday, and there is already significant interest from people across the region vying to represent southwest Washington citizens on city councils, school boards and as port commissioners.
Although it’s considered an off-year election, many of the local politicians could have a big influence over people’s lives.
In Clark County, city and town council positions will be open, including mayoral races in Vancouver and Washougal; school district director positions; fire, port, cemetery and park district commissioners; and a commissioner position in the Clark Regional Wastewater District, according to information from the Clark County Elections Department.
By late afternoon on Monday, nearly 60 people had filed to run.
Many of the names are familiar.
Vancouver City Councilor Anne McEnerny-Ogle announced early she would be running for mayor of Vancouver, hoping to replace Tim Leavitt who isn’t seeking re-election. McEnerny-Ogle made it official on Monday and filed for office. Current Vancouver City Councilor Alishia Topper also filed to seek re-election for Position 2 on the council.
There are four open seats for the nonpartisan Vancouver City Council.
The Port of Vancouver District 1 Commissioner race is also generating some interest. The position is a six-year term.
Kris Greene, an insurance agent in Vancouver, is running for the seat. Greene believes if the Vancouver Energy oil terminal, being proposed for the Port of Vancouver, can be built safely, the port should support the project. Don Orange, a vocal critic of the Vancouver Energy oil terminal, also filed and is against the terminal. He argues the port should be focused on creating “21st century jobs.”
Two small city mayors filed to run for re-election.
Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow, who has held the position since 2008, filed early this morning, as did Washougal Mayor Sean Guard. He was elected in 2009, and after being re-elected in 2013, Guard is seeking his third four-year term.
In Ridgefield, the council selects the mayor, so, technically, Onslow is seeking re-election for Position No. 1. Also filing for re-election in Ridgefield this morning were Don Stose for Position No. 4 and John Main for Position No. 6. Washougal Councilors Brent Boger, Paul Greenlee, Raymond Kutch and Julie A. Russell all filed for re-election, as well.
In-person candidate filing kicked off at 8 a.m. on Monday and lasts until 5 p.m. Friday. To file in person, visit the Clark County Elections Office at 1408 Franklin St. Filing fees can be paid by cash or check only in person.
To find a complete list of open offices, visit the elections office or go online to www.clark.wa.gov/elections/candidates. The elections office can also be contacted at 360-397-2345 or by email at elections@clark.wa.gov.
The primary will be held Aug. 1. The general election will be Nov. 7.
Filed as of Monday afternoon
Here’s a look at who else filed as of late Monday afternoon.
• CITY OF BATTLE GROUND
COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Adrian E. Cortes
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Mike Dalesandro
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 6, Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
Cherish DesRochers
CITY OF CAMAS
• COUNCIL — WARD 1, POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Melissa Smith
• COUNCIL — WARD 2, POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Steven C. Hogan
• COUNCIL — WARD 3, POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Shannon Turk
CITY OF RIDGEFIELD
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Ron Onslow
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Don Stose
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 6, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
John Main
CITY OF VANCOUVER
• MAYOR, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Anne McEnerny-Ogle
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Scott Campbell
Jacob N. Kerr
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Alishia Topper
Justin M. Forsman
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Ken Stryker*
(Filed but does not believe he’s eligible to run this year due to not living within the city limits for long enough)
Michelle Beardshear
CITY OF WASHOUGAL
• MAYOR, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Sean Guard
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Brent Boger
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Paul Greenlee
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Raymond A. Kutch
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 6, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Julie A. Russell
Nettie Morris
CITY OF WOODLAND
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Jennifer Heffernan
• COUNCIL – POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Al Swindell
TOWN OF YACOLT
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Tami Bryant
• COUNCIL — POSITION NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Herbert Noble
CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 117
•SCHOOL DIRECTOR, DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Casey O’Dell
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Julie Rotz
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Tracey L. Malone
EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 114
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Julie Bocanegra
Megan Miles
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Janelle Tuominen
GREEN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 103
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Cameron Tormanen
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Jeff Strong
HOCKINSON SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 98
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Kirk Jensen
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Kathy Nordberg
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Gordon Smith
RIDGEFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 122
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Emily Enquist
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Becky Greenwald
VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Mark F. Stoker
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Heather Christiansen
Wendy Smith
WASHOUGAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 112-6
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 2-year unexpired term
Cory D. Chase
• SCHOOL DIRECTOR — DISTRICT NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Ron F. Dinius
Janice D’Aloia
CLARK COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Stanley Chunn
Gerald (Jerry) Kolke
EAST COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Tom Gianatasio
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 4, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Martha Martin
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 3
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Dick Deleissegues
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 5
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Mike Lyons
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 6
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Brad Lothspeich
CEMETERY DISTRICT NO. 6
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Murray Falk
PORT OF CAMAS-WASHOUGAL
• COMMISSIONER — DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
John Spencer
• COMMISSIONER — DISTRICT NO. 3, Nonpartisan Office 4-year short and full term
Larry Keister
PORT OF VANCOUVER
• COMMISSIONER — DISTRICT NO. 1, Nonpartisan Office 6-year term
Kris Greene
Don Orange
WOODLAND POOL AND RECREATION
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 2, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Sharyn Crosby
• COMMISSIONER — POSITION NO. 5, Nonpartisan Office 4-year term
Shannon Tracy
Reporter Adam Littman contributed to this report.
