All three seats on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners up for election in the May 18 primary election will feature contested races.
The filing deadline for the May contest was 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 9. In addition to the board of commissioners, primary races for Congress, the Oregon Legislature and the state courts will also be on the ballot, as well as tax levies for the Clatsop County Fairgrounds and City of Seaside.
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Hazen of Hammond will be challenged for re-election to his seat by Scott Lee of Astoria. Hazen, assistant manager of the Warrenton Costco, was first elected to the board in 2006 and is seeking a second term. Lee is manager of Bikes and Beyond in Astoria.
John Raichl, commissioner for District 3, is being challenged by Peter Huhtala for re-election. Raichl, former Clatsop County Sheriff, was first appointed to the position in 2008. Huhtala is executive director of the Columbia River Business Alliance.
Huhtala had filed to run in the Democratic primary for the Oregon House District 31 seat against Rep. Brad Witt but withdrew from that race.
Robert Mushen, District 5 commissioner, is running for re-election against challengers John Dunzer of Seaside and Debra Birkby of Arch Cape. Mushen, a retired eye surgeon, was appointed to the position last December to fill the remainder of the term of former Commissioners Ann Samuelson. Dunzer has a background in aerospace and alternative energy industries. Birkby serves on the Southwest Coastal Citizens Advisory Committee.
If no candidate in a county commissioner race receives more than 50 percent of the total vote in the May election, the top two vote-getters for that seat will face off in November.
Two other local positions are also up for election. District Attorney Josh Marquis and Circuit Court Judge Phil Nelson both have no opponents in their respective re-election bids.
Voters will chose candidates in primary races for U.S. senator and District 1 representative, as well as Oregon governor, state school superintendent and several state judge positions.
In local state legislative races, Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, faces no opponent for the Democratic nomination. Bob Horning of North Plains is the sole Republican to file for the seat.
Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, has no challenger in the Democratic primary contest for the District 31 House seat. Ed Decoste of Scappoose is the only GOP candidate.
In the District 32 race, Rep. Deborah Boone of Cannon Beach has no challenger for the Democratic nomination. Only one Republican candidate, Lew Barnes of North Plains, has filed.
Clatsop County voters are also being asked to approve a five-year local option tax levy for the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. The tax would be an estimated $.07 per $1,000 assessed value a year, or $14 for the owner of a $200,000 home. The levy would replace an existing levy of $.09 per $1,000 first approved by voters five years ago.
The City of Seaside is seeking approval from city voters for a local option levy to purchase seven police vehicles and fund a patrol officer position. The levy would be an estimated $.15 per $1,000 assessed value, or $30 per year.
Ballots for the May 18 mail-in election will be sent out beginning April 30. For more information go to “May 2010 Primary Election” on the Clatsop County web page, www.co.clatsop.or.us.
