Election field takes shape

State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, is running to represent District 6 in Congress.

Monday was the first day candidates could file for positions up for grabs in the Aug. 6 primary election. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to file. Lots then will be drawn for the order of the candidates on the ballot. May 13 is the deadline for people to withdraw their candidacy.

MacEwen, who represents the 35th District in the state Senate, is a Republican. The only other candidate who has filed as of Wednesday morning is Democrat Hilary Franz. They hope to replace Derek Kilmer, a Democrat who isn’t seeking another term.

State Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, both Allyn Republicans, are seeking new two-year terms representing District 35 in the state House. At the Journal’s deadline Wednesday, Griffey was running unopposed and Couture is facing Democrat James DeHart of Shelton.

Two of the three seats on the Mason County Board of Commissioners are up for grabs. Republican Richard Beckman and Tom Beben, an independent, are vying to replace Kevin Shutty representing District 2. Shutty chose not to seek another term and recently started working as executive director of the Economic Development Council of Mason County. Both Beckman and Beben are downtown Shelton business owners.

Republican William Harris of Allyn is competing to represent Commission District 2. Incumbent Randy Neatherlin had not filed for a new term when the Journal went to press.