Filing week: Thurston Co. Sheriff’s race set, county seat attracts 2 challengers
Thurston County filing week for elected office produced a few surprises late Friday, including that the race for the District 5 county seat held by Emily Clouse has attracted not one, but two challengers.
Elsewhere, a number of elected officials – County Clerk Linda Myhre Enlow, Assessor Steven Drew, Auditor Mary Hall and Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim – have decided not to run again, according to filing week information.
Tunheim previously announced he was retiring.
One of the biggest races of election season is set: It pits incumbent Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, who has filed as an Independent, against challenger Kevin Burton-Crow, a Democrat. Burton-Crow also works for the Sheriff’s Office as a detective.
Incumbent Thurston County Commissioner Clouse, a Democrat, has picked up two challengers: Lacey City Council member Nic Dunning, who has filed as a “moderate Democrat,” and North Thurston Public Schools Board member Michelle Gipson, also a Democrat.
Meanwhile, the county commission might be saying goodbye to Carolina Mejia, a Democrat, who has decided to challenge incumbent Republican state Sen. Drew MacEwen in the 35th Legislative District. County Commissioner Tye Menser, a Democrat, is running unopposed for his District 4 seat.
Other officials running unopposed: Thurston County Corner Gary Warnock, Treasurer Jeff Gadman and Christy Peters, who is running for prosecuting attorney. Peters is the current chief of staff for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. All three filed as Democrats.
Current Thurston County Elections Manager and Democrat Tillie Naputi-Pullar is running unopposed to become the next auditor.
Four candidates have emerged for clerk and assessor. For clerk, Nicole Miller, a Democrat, and Garrett Cady, an Independent, have stepped into the fray, while Lynda Zeman and JJ Olson will square off for assessor. Both are Democrats.
Thurston PUD Commissioner Chris Stearns also is not running again, so his District 3 seat has attracted two challengers: Jeff Curry and Christopher Petit.
For the District 1 seat, Troy Kirby and Bruce Wilkinson, Jr., will challenge incumbent Jim Campbell.
For a complete list of those running for congressional, legislative and judicial seats, check the Thurston County elections page.
