Elections (Older)

County Prosecutor Candidates

On Thursday, July 26 KPTZ DJ and News Host Charlie Bermant interviewed County Prosecutor candidates Mike Haas and James Kennedy.

      Mike Haas and James Kennedy (aired Aug. 2)

County Commissioner Candidates

Continuing our Elections 2018 coverage, Tossed Salad‘s Phil Andrus interviews candidates running for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Kathleen Kler. You can listen to these segments from the show below:

      Jon Cooke, Republican candidate (July 13)
      Ryan McAllister, Democratic candidate (July 13)
      Greg Brotherton, Democrat (July 20)
      Craig Durgan, Democrat (July 20)

LWV-AAUW Forum – County Commissioner District 3 Candidates

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.

      Jon Cooke & Ryan McAllister, Craig Durgan, Greg Brotherton (July 18)

LWV-AAUW Forums – County Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney

Continuing the KPTZ series of candidate interviews intended to inform voters about candidates running in eight local races, KPTZ broadcast the July 9 candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women, which was held at the Port Townsend Community Center. KPTZ’s Tossed Salad Chef Phil Andrus served as moderator:

  • Jefferson County Sheriff candidates – incumbent David Stanko and challenger Joe Nole – got into the details about law-enforcement issues.
  • Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney candidates – incumbent Michael Haas and challenger James Kennedy – faced the crowd and the questions.
      David Stanko & Joe Nole, Michael Haas & James Kennedy (July 9)

LWV – Candidate Forum – 24th Legislative District Candidates

KPTZ continues its series of candidate interviews intended to inform voters about candidates running in eight local races with the League of Women Voters candidate forum featuring 24th Legislative District candidates, recorded June 27 and moderated by attorney Rick Shaneyfelt:

      Mike Chapman vs. Jodi Wilke and Steve Tharinger vs. Jim McIntyre

2018 Election Coverage, Part 3

Continuing the KPTZ series of candidate interviews intended to inform voters about candidates running in eight local races, this Monday, July 30 at 7pm, KPTZ will broadcast the July 9 candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Society of University Women, which was held Monday July 9 at the Port Townsend Community Center. KPTZ’s Tossed Salad Chef Phil Andrus served as moderator:

  • Jefferson County Sheriff candidates – incumbent David Stanko and challenger Joe Nole –  got into the details about law-enforcement issues.
  • Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney candidates – incumbent Michael Haas and challenger James Kennedy – faced the crowd and the questions.

For this coming Thursday, August 2 at 12:10pm, KPTZ News Correspondent Charlie Bermant talks 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.

2018 Election Coverage, Part 2

KPTZ continues its series of candidate interviews intended to inform voters about candidates running in eight local races. Up next:

Monday 7/23, 7-8:45pm – League of Women Voters Candidate forum featuring
24th Legislative District candidates (recorded June 27, 2018):
Mike Chapman vs. Jodi Wilke
Steve Tharinger vs. Jim McIntyre.
Moderator, attorney Rick Shaneyfelt

Thursday 7/26, 12:10-12:40pm – KPTZ DJ and News Host Charlie Bermant’s discussion interview with
County Prosecutor candidates Mike Haas and James Kennedy

Following these airings, KPTZ will provide streaming audio of the broadcasts on our Elections audio archive page.

KPTZ Election Series Helps Voters Decide

KPTZ is beginning a series of candidate interviews intended to inform voters about candidates running in eight local races.

“We are excited to provide this service to our listeners, in order to better acquaint them with the candidates,” said KPTZ Program Director Larry Stein. “We can provide added value to what people might see in forums or read in the newspaper, as the radio format allows candidates to speak in detail without time restrictions.”

The interviews will be conducted in separate formats by two key KPTZ staff members: News team member and Alive! and Kicking DJ host Charlie Bermant will present special report discussions between two district judge candidates on consecutive Thursdays beginning next week. And Tossed Salad host Phil Andrus will conduct extended one-on-one discussions as part of his regular Friday afternoon shows.

Charlie Bermant’s special reports, all to air Thursdays at 12:05pm, begin July 12 with a discussion between District Court Judge candidates Noah Harrison and Mindy Walker.

Subsequent programs include Sheriff candidates Joe Nole and David Stanko (July 19), County Prosecutor candidates Mike Haas and James Kennedy (July 26), and PUD candidates Tom Brotherton and Dan Toepper (August 2).

Because there are only two people running for each office, the results of the Aug. 7 primary do not affect the race, which will be decided in the Nov. 6 general election.

However, the race for Jefferson County Commissioner District 3 is contested, with four candidates vying to replace retiring Commissioner Kathleen Kler:  Phil Andrus will offer in depth, one-on-one conversations with the County Commissioner candidates on Friday, July 13 (Ryan McAllister at 2pm and Jon Cooke at 3:15pm) and Friday, July 20 (Greg Brotherton at 2:30pm and Craig Durgan at 3:00pm).

Two legislative races are scheduled this year: Steve Tharanger faces Jim McIntire while Mike Chapman is challenged by Jodi Wilke. Coverage for these races is as yet unscheduled.

Primary ballots are due to be mailed out on July 20.

Following the primary election, Phil and Charlie will conduct follow-up interviews with the candidates prior to Election Day.