Elections (Older)

City Council Candidates Forum Available for Viewing

Anyone unable to attend the October 7 Port Townsend City Council Candidates Forum can now view the video of the candidates for Position 1: Cameron Jones and Ben Thomas – and Position 5: Tyler Vega and Libby Wennstrom – via a link posted at https://www.lwvwa.org/Jefferson or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG2mNm241u8. The League of Women Voters encourages all voters to watch the forum, view the candidates’ websites, and read their responses to written questions on Vote411.org prior to voting.

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County sincerely thanks moderator Renee Klein, co-sponsor (the American Association of University Women-Port Townsend), and media partner (KPTZ 91.9 FM, Port Townsend’s Community Radio) for their support of the forum. They are equally grateful to local filmmaker Dennis Daneau, who edited and produced the video. For additional information, contact the League of Women Voters-Jefferson County at [email protected].

Ballots for the November 2 election will be mailed starting October 13 and must be turned in by November 2. New online and mailed-in registrations to vote must be received by October 25. In-person registration at the Jefferson County Courthouse is possible during business hours through November 2. See the Jefferson County Elections website at https://co.jefferson.wa.us/1266/Elections for more information on deadlines and ballot box locations.

Jefferson County has an Accessible Voting Unit located in the Courthouse, next to the Auditor’s Office. Access is available  weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Election Day hours are from 8:30am to 8pm. Questions: 385-9119. Or email [email protected].

KPTZ Broadcast on Thursday 10/08/20

At the forum, the candidates gave timed opening and closing statements, and answered questions submitted by the public in advance via email to [email protected]. Concise, unbiased questions were given priority; some questions were combined for time purposes. Every effort was made to cover a wide range of subjects.

The two candidates for Jefferson County Commissioner District 2 – Heidi Eisenhour and Lorna Smith – faced off in this Zoom webinar on Thursday, October 8, from 6:30-8pm. As media partner for the forum, KPTZ 91.9 FM simulcast the event, as well as livestreamed the broadcast online, here at KTPZ.org.

Video of Recorded Forum

The Jefferson County League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women-Port Townsend produced this forum. Renee Klein of Madrona MindBody Institute was moderator. While only those voters living in District 2 were able to vote in the primary, all Jefferson County voters will participate in the final selection of the District 2 contest.

Both candidates are Democrats who seek to represent the mid-county district that includes Chimacum, Hadlock, Irondale, Marrowstone Island, Kala Point, Woodland Hills, and Cape George. The forum was recorded, edited for brevity, and posted on YouTube on Dennis Daneau’s channel, available at the link above. Ballots for the general election will be mailed starting October 14.

Those not yet registered to vote are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Online and mail registrations to vote must be received by October 26. In-person registration at the Jefferson County Courthouse is possible during business hours until close of business on November 3.

The Jefferson County League of Women Voters reminds you to sign and either mail or drop off your election ballot by November 3 at 8pm. Drop-off boxes are located inside and in the parking lot of the Jefferson County Courthouse, Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock, Quilcene Community Center, Nordland Fire Station, and Brinnon Community Center. Information on specific initiatives and candidates can be found online at vote411.org. US Citizens who have not yet registered to vote can do so online through October 26 or in-person at the Jefferson County Courthouse located at 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend. For more information, see the Jefferson County Elections website.

Hear From Your Commissioner Candidates!

(Original airdate Sept. 14, 2020) Election day approaches… KPTZ news reporter Lily Haight talks with commissioner candidates Heidi Eisenhour and Lorna Smith, who are both running for the District 2 seat on the Board of County Commissioners. They discuss everything from COVID-19 recovery, to affordable housing, and the future of law enforcement in Jefferson County.

KPTZ Broadcast on Tuesday 6/23/20

For the first time, the Jefferson County League of Women Voters and AAUW Port Townsend presented a candidate forum in virtual space. And KPTZ simulcasted the event as a live broadcast.

The three candidates for Jefferson County Commissioner District 2 – Heidi Eisenhour, Amanda Rae Funaro, and Lorna Smith – faced off in this Zoom webinar on Tuesday, June 23,from 7 to 8:30pm. Renee Klein of Madrona MindBody Institute will be the moderator for this forum and broadcast.

Below are 45-minute long recordings from that evening:

Part 1
Part 2

LWV Forum #5
Chimacum School District #2

(Airdate: October 28, 2019) KPTZ broadcasts the candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women-Port Townsend, which was held Monday October 14 at Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum. This show features candidates for Position 3: Steve Martin and Kristina Mayer.

LWV Forum #4
Chimacum School District #1

(Airdate: October 24, 2019) KPTZ broadcasts the candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women-Port Townsend, which was held Monday October 14 at Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum. This show features candidates for Position 2: Mike Aman and Mickey Nagy and for Position 4: Michael Raymon and Tami Robocker.

LWV Forum #3
PT City Council Position 6

(Airdate: October 21, 2019) KPTZ broadcasts the candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women-Port Townsend, the second of which was held Thursday October 10 at the Port Townsend Community Center. The second of the three candidate forums features candidates Bernie Arthur and Amy Howard, facing off in the race for Port Townsend City Council Position 6. 

Local Election Advance Coverage on KPTZ

Be informed when you exercise your right to vote. To find out more about the candidates running for Port Townsend City Council and for the Port Commission, KPTZ has aired several interview discussions for broadcast ~ now available to hear, here on our website. Also online for streaming, we’ve got the League of Women Voters forums featuring Q&A with the candidates. All these recordings are available by clicking here.

LWV Forum #2
PT City Council Position 3

(Airdate: October 14, 2019) KPTZ broadcasts the candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women – Port Townsend, the second of which was held Thursday October 10 at the Port Townsend Community Center. The second of the three candidate forums features challenger Monica MickHager who seeks to unseat incumbent Deborah Stinson in the race for Port Townsend City Council Position 3. In full disclosure, KPTZ wishes to make known that candidate Monica MickHager is a current member of KPTZ Radio Port Townsend’s Board of Directors.  

LWV Forum #1
Port Commissioner Position 1

(Airdate: October 7, 2019) KPTZ broadcasts the candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women-Port Townsend, which was held Tuesday October 1 at the Port Townsend Community Center. For the first of the three candidate forums intended to inform voters about candidates running in November election local races, Chuck Fauls and Pam Petranek, Port Commission District 1 are featured.

PT City Council Candidates

(Airdate: August 29, 2019) KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant interviews Port Townsend City Council candidates Deborah Stinson and Monica Mick Hager.

Port of PT District 1 Candidates

(Airdate: August 22, 2019) KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant interviews Port of Port Townsend District 1 candidates Chuck Fauls and Pam Petranek.

PT City Council Position 6 Candidates

(Airdate: August 15, 2019) Port Townsend City Council Position 6 candidates Amy Howard and Bernie Arthur are interviewed by KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant.

City Council Candidate Owen Rowe

(Airdate: August 1, 2019) Unopposed Port Townsend City Council candidate Owen Rowe discusses the issues with his predecessor, two-term council member Bob Gray.

Public Hospital District 2 Commissioner (Positions 2 & 5)

(Airdate: July 25, 2019) KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant interviews incumbent Jefferson Healthcare Commissioners Jill Buhler Rienstra and Matt Ready, both unopposed in the November election, during which they discuss what they want to accomplish during their next terms.

PT City Council Candidates

(Airdate: July 18, 2019)  KPTZ’s Charlie Bermant interviews Port Townsend City Council Position 7 candidates David Faber (incumbent) and Tyler Vega (challenger).

Compass for the Week of 10/15/2018

On this week’s Compass KPTZ correspondent Charlie Bermant interviews Washington State representative District 24 hopefuls Jim McEntire and Steve Tharinger. Aired live on October 15, this is the final installment of a series of three live candidate interviews.

      Episode

Compass for the Week of 10/08/2018

On this week’s Compass KPTZ correspondent Charlie Bermant interviews Washington State representative District 24 hopefuls Mike Chapman and Jodi Wilke. Aired live on October 8, this is the second of a series of three live candidate interviews.

Jeffco PUD Candidates on KPTZ Compass

On KPTZ Compass for 10/01/2018, KPTZ correspondent Charlie Bermant interviews Jefferson County Commissioner District 3 hopefuls Greg Brotherton and Jon Cooke. Recorded live on October 1, this is the first of a series of three live candidate interviews.

      Greg Brotherton and Jon Cooke

2018 Election Coverage, Part 4

Tuesday Update: KPTZ News with Charlie Bermant will feature a report on the election outcome to air Wednesday, August 8 at 5 minutes after noon.

Just in time for Tuesday’s election, KPTZ will air the entire District 3 Board of County Commissioners forum on Monday, August 6 at 7pm.

You can listen to previously published candidate discussions and forums at Elections 2018.

About this broadcast: In today’s charged political climate, it’s crucial to know where the candidates stand on the issues. On July 18, four candidates for Jefferson County Commissioner District 3 answered questions during a 90-minute forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. Republican candidate Jon Cooke and Democrats Ryan McAllister, Craig Durgan and Greg Brotherton discussed local issues. The forum was held at the Port Ludlow Beach Club and was moderated by attorney Rock Shaneyfelt, and included questions from approximately 100 people in attendance.

Jeffco PUD Candidates

Concluding our Elections 2018 coverage, Charlie Bermant conducts a discussion first aired August 2 about the future of public utilities in Jefferson County with both candidates in the Public Utility District race, even though it won’t be decided until the November 6 general election. Both PUD candidates – District 3 residents Dan Toepper and Tom Brotherton – are interested in the position. With the retirement of PUD Commissioner Wayne King, the board has completely turned over in the last six years.

      PUD Candidates, Dan Toepper and Tom Brotherton (aired Aug. 2)

District Judge Candidates

Continuing our Elections 2018 coverage, Charlie Bermant conducts a discussion first aired July 12 between District Court Judge candidates Noah Harrison and Mindy Walker.

      District Judge Candidates, Noah Harrison and Mindy Walker (aired July 12)

Sheriff Candidates

For the first of our Elections 2018 coverage, Charlie Bermant conducts a discussion first aired July 19 between Sheriff candidates Joe Nole and David Stanko.

      Sheriff Candidates, Joe Nole and David Stanko (aired July 19)