Don’t like the way government is handling things? Throw your hat into the ring. Filing week is May 15-19 in Kitsap County. Cities; school boards; ports; and fire, parks and utility districts all have openings.
If there are only two filers for a position, both move on to the general election in November. If there are three or more filers for a spot they will face off in the primary in August.
“The people in these elected positions serve a vital role in our communities and often provide the most direct service in our day-to-day lives,” said Paul Andrews, Kitsap auditor. “I’m always excited during filing week to see how many people step up to serve.”
Online filing, the option most candidates use, begins at 9 a.m. May 15 and ends at 4 p.m. May 19. In-person and filing by email or fax begins at 8 a.m. May 15 and ends at 4:30 p.m. May 19. The auditor’s office has already received a handful of filings by mail, a county news release says.
The deadline to withdraw a candidacy is 4:30 p.m. May 22. Candidate statements and photos, which appear in the Local Voters’ Pamphlet, are due May 26.
A lot draw, which determines the order candidates appear on a ballot, will be at 4:30 p.m. May 19 at the Elections desk in the auditor’s office, 619 Division St., Port Orchard, and will be streamed live at www.youtube.
People interested in running for a local office are encouraged to visit www.kitsapgov.
Along with the spots open on the ballot listed below there are also four water district, one utility district, one sewer district and a dozen port district spots up for election.
Bainbridge
City Council, four spots, four four-year terms, $360 filing fee.
School board, three spots, four-year terms.
Fire, two spots, a two- year, and six-year terms
Parks, one commissioner, six-year term
Bremerton
Council, three spots, four-year terms plus, $156.49 fee.
School board, three spots, four-year terms.
Central Kitsap
Three school board, four-year terms.
CK fire, two spots, six-year terms.
Port Orchard
Mayor, four-year term, $1,191.45 filing fee; four council spots, four-year terms, $120 fee.
South Kitsap schools, three spots, four-year terms.
South Kitsap fire, one spot, six-year term.
Poulsbo
Four council spots, four-year terms, $90 fee.
North Kitsap school board, three spots, four-year terms.
North Kitsap fire, two commissioners, six-year terms.
Poulsbo fire, two spots, six-year terms.
Parks, Village Green, one commissioner, six-year term.
