Voters Guide

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Wednesday July 18, 2018

2018 PRIM A RY E LECTION

What is a primary?

Chimacum needs levy

Jimmy Hall jhall@ptleader.com In comparison with general elections, especially those that come every four years when the president of the United States is at stake, it is no secret the primaries see less attention. Though they do not get the same amount of limelight, their ramifications can be felt in following elections. As one might infer, primary elections, which are conducted in the middle of the year, and vary on what date they are held state by state, determine candidates who will run in the General election, for the most part. As Washington runs on a top-two primary system, any registered voter will be able to vote for any candidate on the ballot, regardless of their affiliation. The two candidates who receive the most votes will move on to the November General election. Positions having one or two candidates for their office, and there are a few that will arrive on Jefferson County doorsteps, will also move on to November and will need a 50 percent plus one vote to claim their seat. There are 29 candidates running for United States Senator, including five

Although Chimacum Schools Superintendent Rick Thompson expressed optimism about the district's replacement levy on the Aug. 7 ballot, he noted the district is taking no chances as to its passage. “Statewide, replacement levies like this have passed for well over 90 percent of the school districts that have run them,” Thompson said. “But we looked at the election calendar, and realized that, if we were going to choose to run this levy again, we'd have to file on the day of the election, before we found out the results.” As such, even though the Chimacum School District hopes and expects its replacement levy to pass Aug. 7, it has already re-filed the levy for the November election. “If it turns out we don't need to run it again, we can withdraw the levy from the fall ballot, without being charged for it,” Thompson said. “We can only run a levy like this twice within a calendar year, and the collections from the existing levy expire on Dec. 31 of this year, so we've got a hard deadline.” Thompson reiterated that capital facilities support expenses, such as those that

See Primary, page 7▼

See Levy, page 12▼

Jefferson Co. Voting 101

Don't miss out - register!

Jimmy Hall Jhall@ptleader.com Gone are the days of finding a time off work on Election Day and hurrying to the appropriate polling station to cast the all-important ballot. Since the Washington State Legislature passed a bill requiring all 39 counties to conduct election by mail in 2011, all elections use the Postal Service to distribute ballots and collect them, if voters choose. In Jefferson County, there are 27,886 registered voters, as July 16, it the county’s 39 precincts. The voters should expect their ballots after the day they are mailed out, July 18, and need to be returned to either a drop box, to the Jefferson County Elections Department, or postmarked by Election Day, Aug. 7, to be counted. All ballots are counted once received by the Elections Department, though there will be another count of any additional ballots by 4 p.m. Aug. 10. When the ballot comes in the mail, there will be a ballot to fill out, a secrecy envelope and a return envelope. For voters who do not receive a ballot, contact the Jefferson County Elections Department at 360-385-9119 or at 1820 Jefferson St. between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on workdays. Be sure to follow the instructions on the ballot before returning it. Filled-in ballots can be returned

manage all (central committee) operations. This includes voting on officers, policies, plans and activities. The site states PCOs are also expected to “actively participate in committees, as well as in executing plans and conducting activities.” The Jefferson County Republican Party website goes on to list other responsibilities of the PCO position as including: 1. Facilitating voter registration and absentee ballot access. 2. Leading get-out-the-vote outreach efforts. 3. Distributing campaign and party literature. 4. Promoting the party. 5. And addressing voter concerns. The Jefferson County Democrats' website employs

Jimmy Hall jhall@ptleader.com Though it is too late for a person to register using mail-in and online registration and to update voter information to ensure a ballot arrives at their door before Election Day, it is not too late for new voter sto register. Brand new voters who have not registered in Washington still can if they do so in person by the July 30 deadline, one week before the Primary Election Day on Aug. 7. Though voting is a right protected by the U.S. Constitution, there are a few hoops to jump through to ensure a ballot is received and properly counted. In order to register, voters must be a citizen of the United States, if they are in Washington they need to be a legal resident of the state, must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, not disqualified from voting due to a court order and must not be under the Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction. To prove residency, a voter must establish their residency at least 30 days before Election Day, which is done by providing proof such as showing a bill. Voters can only be registered at one location, even if they own multiple residences. Those who have nontraditional addresses, such as a motor home or transitional house, their residence is the physical location at the time they register to vote.

See PCO, page 12▼

See Register, page 12▼

See Voting, page 2▼

Kirk Boxleitner kboxleitner@ptleader.com

Districts

Pictured above, is a map of the Jefferson County Commissioner districts and local precints outlining their respective serving areas. In the 2018 primary election, more than 40 candidates are vying for Democratic Precinct Committee Officers, while four hopefuls are wanting to advance to the November General Election in the Commission District 3 seat. Photo coutresy of Jefferson County Auditor’s Office

PCOs determined in primary Kirk Boxleitner kboxleitner@ptleader.com One office on the Aug. 7 ballot voters might not be accustomed to seeing listed as frequently is that of Precinct Committee Officer. “PCO elections are significant, and people don't understand them,” said Bruce Cowan, former chair of the Jefferson County Democrats. “The two major parties in the county each have a central committee, that has a certain authority under law. Each central committee is made up of the PCOs elected in the primary elections on even-numbered years, and each PCO's term is two years.” The Jefferson County Republican Party website stated the PCO job description is to “define and

Prosecuting Attorney Full Name: Michael E. Haas Age: 57 Town in which you live: Port Townsend Family: Wife, Heather Haas; four children ages 9 – 15, adopted from Ethiopia Hobbies: Hiking, sailing, reading, spending time with my family when the demands of the office permit it. Why is it important for you to run for office? “Jefferson County needs an experienced and mature attorney at the helm of the Prosecutor’s Office. It needs a leader committed to social justice who emphasizes the use of therapeutic courts where appropriate but will double down on serious violent and sex offenders. We need a prosecutor who is independent and not beholden to certain political groups; one who has the courage to tell the County’s institutional clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. We need someone who will maintain

Prosecuting Attorney

Full Name: James Mitchell Kennedy Age: 37 Town I live in: Port Ludlow Family: I am married to my wife of 12 years, Krystal. We What makes you stand out as a candidate? have two sons, Sol “Experience. 30 years vs. 5 years and Collin, and are practicing law. Law offices supervised: three vs. none. Attorneys supervised: 12 vs. expecting a third any day now. Hobbies: none. I enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, travelling, “I possess: extensive trial experience, extensive appellate experience, complex cooking and being a dad. litigation experience in criminal and civil matters, and federal criminal and civil Why is it important for you to run for office? “When the people see their public offices experience. “In my 30 years of practicing law, I served: performing well, it builds confidence in our 15 years in criminal prosecutions, 11 in criminal shared government. When they see them performing poorly, as they have for the past defense, and four in civil litigation. “When it comes to management, which is three and more years, the opposite happens. I one of the key roles of the Prosecuting Attorney, am running to restore the public's confidence in I believe in hiring excellent personnel, giving the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.” them the training and tools they need to do their jobs, then staying out of their way. It’s a proven What makes you stand out as a candidate? “As a former Army officer who has lead See Haas, page 12▼ the incredible team of extremely experienced litigators I’ve brought together. “We need someone with significant trial and appellate experience who knows the value of a case and can act as a guide for other attorneys in the office in analyzing the complex legal and ethical issues that arise on a daily basis. We need a prosecutor that has actually supervised and mentored other attorneys.”

troops in Iraq and a current prosecutor who keeps up on the law because of my full caseload, I am the only candidate who has the experience necessary to manage the office and litigate cases. I will use my administrative skills to make sure every member of the staff has the tools and support they need to excel at their duties. I will also carry a caseload, litigate my own cases and share the best practices that I have learned while serving in other counties.” What are the three biggest issues you would like to address if elected? “Training - The legal world is constantly changing. That means the attorneys and the staff need specialized training to do their jobs and keep their skills sharp and up-to-date. “Team work - I want to work with the Dove House and local law enforcement to establish a Child Advocacy Center to protect victims, get them the services they need and assist with investigations. I will bring these agencies together along with CPS, and our mental-health providers to establish a Multi-Disciplinary Team to ensure collaboration occurs during the investigation and prosecution of cases. “Safer Streets - One of the most serious crimes regularly occurring in our county is DUI See Kennedy, page 12▼


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