Candidates file for office; some positions unclaimed

Filing for elected offices that will appear on this year's primary and general election ballots wrapped up Friday with three contested positions and many positions unclaimed.

Lamar Blix and Shawn Merz have filed for Wahkiakum School District (WSD) Director position 4, a 4-year term. Michelle Budd, incumbent, filed for re-election to Director position 5 on the WSD board of directors, a 4-year term.

Art Hyland, the incumbent, and Joshua Holt have filed for Director position 2 in the Naselle/Grays River Valley School District (N/GRVSD) board of directors, 4-year term.

Two N/GRVSD positions in Pacific County drew candidates: Director Position 4, 4-year term--Allen Lebovitz and Buddy Strange. Director Position 5, 4-year term--Steve Gacke.

Other filings include:

County sheriff--one year unexpired term; Mark Howie, appointed incumbent.

Howie filed as an Independent; all other positions are non-partisan.

Port District No. 1, commissioner position 1, 6-year term, Bob Kizziar. North and South Cathlamet precincts.

Fire District 1, commissioner position 1, 6-year term--Lee Tischer incumbent.

Fire District 2, commissioner position 3, 6-year term--Kent Martin incumbent.

Fire District 3, commissioner position 1, 2-year unexpired term--Don Smith incumbent

Fire District 4, commissioner position 3, 6-year term--Larry Hendrickson incumbent.

Skamokawa Water and Sewer Commission, position 1, 4-year unexpired term, David Blalock.

Town of Cathlamet

Mayor, 4-year term, Dale Jacobson.

Council position 1, 2-year unexpired term, Hannah Booth-Watts.

Council position 4, 4-year term, David Goodroe.

Council position 5, 4-year term, Andrew Lea.

A Cathlamet native, Jacobson served as mayor of Long Beach before moving back recently to Cathlamet. Both Lea and Goodroe have held council positions in the past.

Wahkiakum County Auditor Diane Tischer will schedule a special filing period for positions that drew no candidates.

Positions for which no candidate filed include:

Port District No. 2, commissioner position 2, 6-year term, Brian O'Connor incumbent. Includes Grays River and part of Skamokawa precincts. No filing fee.

Wahkiakum School District board of directors: Director position 1, 2-year unexpired term, vacant, and Director position 3, 4-year term, Mike Quigley incumbent. No filing fee.

Cemetery District 1, commissioner position 2, 6-year term. Fred Stanley, incumbent. No filing fee.

Cemetery District 2, commissioner position 2, 4-year unexpired term. Kent Martin, incumbent. No filing fee.

Skamokawa Water and Sewer Commission, position 3, 6-year unexpired term, Oliver Van Den Berghe incumbent. Filing fee $24.96.