August primary election set as 315 candidates file for run

The race to the Aug. 4 primary election is on.

Friday was the final day for candidates to file forms and pay fees to run for office. After the weeklong filing period closed at 5 p.m., the Washington Secretary of State’s office listed 315 candidates running in Clark County for 256 offices, including dozens of precinct committee officer positions.

Not all of the candidates will face a primary challenger in the state’s top two primary, which allows voters to cast a vote for their favorite candidate regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary election will move on to the general election in November.

The Clark County Elections Office will mail ballots by July 17.

The most contested race this year is for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum counties and a small part of Thurston County. Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is running for her third term. She faces several challengers, including Republican state Sen. John Braun of Centralia and Democratic candidate Brent Hennrich of Vancouver.

Others vying for the 3rd District seat include Democratic candidates Austin Braswell and Troy Rasband; Republican candidates Lawrence Kellogg and John P. Roco; independent candidate John Saulie-Rohman; and Cascade Party candidate Antony Barran.

State, county races

The Aug. 4 primary election also includes several state legislative and county races.

Republican Rep. Kevin Waters of Stevenson is running to retain his Legislative District 17, Position 1 seat. He faces two challengers from Vancouver, Democratic candidate Ben Christly and Thomas Everett Haynes, who listed his party preference as “pro gun liberal.”

Another incumbent representative, Republican David Stuebe of Washougal, also will face a single Democratic challenger — Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez — in the race for the 17th District’s Position 2 seat.

In the 18th Legislative District, incumbent Rep. Stephanie McClintock, a Vancouver Republican, will face Randi L. Knott, a Battle Ground Democrat, in the race for the district’s Position 1 seat while Republican Rep. John Ley of Vancouver will run against Democratic challenger Deken Letinich, a Brush Prairie resident, for the 18th District Position 2 seat.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno of Centralia will face Democratic challenger and Toutle resident Andy Zahn in the 20th District Position 1 race, and incumbent Republican Rep. Ed Orcutt will run against Democratic candidate Evan Jones for the 20th District Position 2 seat.

Another Vancouver city councilor, Kim Harless, is running to replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Sharon Wylie in the 49th District Position 1 race. Harless, a Democrat, will compete with Mike Pond, also a Democrat, and Republican Sarah Mittelman, a Vancouver nurse. In the 49th District Position 2 race, incumbent Democratic Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier will face Republican challenger Derek Thompson.

Rep. Sharon Wylie, Vancouver City Councilor Ty Stober, former Clark County Councilor Eileen Quiring O’Brien and county staffer Mitchell Kelly will compete to be Clark County’s next auditor.

On the Clark County Council, incumbent District 1 Councilor Glen Yung will face challengers Bryan Shull, Lukas Bardue and Dusti Arab, while incumbent District 2 Councilor Michelle Belkot faces challengers John Zingale and Martin Pittioni. Battle Ground Councilor and former Mayor Troy McCoy will compete with former county policy analyst Peter Silliman for the council’s District 5 seat. The District 5 seat is held by Councilor Sue Marshall, who will not run for reelection.

Clark County Sheriff John Horch, Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Laurel Smith and Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper will all run for reelection unopposed.

Two candidates, incumbent Peter Van Nortwick and Tyler Thoune, are running to be Clark County’s next assessor. Gerald E. Gray and Rachel Shapiro are challenging incumbent Scott G. Weber for Clark County clerk.