Local elections shaping up

The candidate filing period for the Nov. 3 general election closed on Friday and left La Conner area voters with a few contested races to decide.

Town of La Conner

For the Town of La Conner, Mayor Ramon Hayes is running for his third four-year term unopposed.

La Conner Councilman Jacques Brunisholz, who retired after teaching generations of La Conner High School students and who has served on the council since 2008, is being challenged by Charity Starkenburg for his position 1 seat. Starkenburg is the popular owner of Bamboo Coffee, formerly La Crema Coffee.

Council member MaryLee Chamberlain, a school psycho-logist and former member of the town Planning Commission also has a challenger, David Ritchie, who worked as a town code enforcement officer many years ago. Chamberlain was appointed to fill Position 4, which was left vacant after Troy Allen, a former owner of La Crema Coffee, was elected in 2013 and then moved out of town before he was sworn in.

Incumbent Dan O’Donnell, who has served several terms on the council over the years and one as Mayor, did not file for re-election. It appears that his position 5 seat will be occupied by Bill Bruch, a property manager who is running unopposed.

La Conner School District

All three incumbents on the La Conner School Board are running unopposed for four-year terms. Attorney Kate Szurek, who was appointed when Mike Compton resigned last year, is seeking her first election to Position 1; board veterans Janie Beasley and Rick Thompson have no challengers for positions 2 and 4 respectively.

Fire District 13

Likewise the Fire District 13 Commission election, where two of the three seats expire this year. Former Shelter Bay Community homeowners asso-ciation president Larry Kibbee is running unopposed to finish the last two years on the term he was appointed to when Doug Avery resigned. Veteran board member Chuck Hedlund is running unopposed for another six-year term.

Port of Skagit

In one case, it appears there will be a primary election to narrow The Port of Skagit election field from three to two candidates. Incumbent Port Commission member William J. “Bill” Schuler picked up two challengers for his six-year Position 3 post.

He is being challenged by Mahlon Hull and Pola Kelley, both of Sedro-Woolley. Port of Skagit has La Conner area voters on the east side of the Swinomish Channel.

Port of Anacortes

On the west side, where Shelter Bay voters live, the Port of Anacortes is on the ballot with two four-year terms opening up this year. A primary election was avoided in that port district when the incumbent for Position 3, Bob Eberle, and one of his two challengers, Doug Huttenstein, withdrew from the contest. Left in the race for that spot are Joe Verdoes of Anacortes and Judy Berentson of Burlington.

The other contest in the Port of Anacortes is for Position 4, in which incumbent Pat Mooney is challenged by John Pope. Both candidates are from Anacortes.

Cemetery District 1

Without fanfare, Cemetery District 1, which operates Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, drew incumbents Gail Thulen and Eric Anderson back and willing to serve new six-year terms.