Primary ballots mailed

Ballots for the Aug. 6 primary election were mailed Monday to Mason County voters.

In the two Mason County Commission contests, the two candidates who receive the most votes will square off in the November general election.

Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin, an independent, is seeking a fourth four-year term representing District 1 on the commission. He faces two Republican challengers, Ted Jackson and William Harris, both of Allyn.

Republicans Richard Beckman and Pat Tarzwell, and Tom Beben, who states no party preference, are seeking to replace Kevin Shutty representing District 2 on the Mason County Commission after Shutty declined to seek another term.

Shelton Mayor Eric Onisko, a Republican, and Democrat James DeHart of Allyn seek to unseat state Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, representing District 35 in the state House of Representatives.

The other state representative in the 35th District, Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, is running unopposed.

State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Allyn), is one of five candidates seeking to replace the retiring Derek Kilmer representing Congressional District 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The others are Democrats Emily Randall and Hilary Franz, Republican Janis Clark and independent J. Graham Ralston.

The ballot also features two fire measures. Fire District 6 in Union is asking for a multiyear levy lift, stating that the district’s $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation levy rate has fallen to about $1.03 due to statutory limitations. Passage of the measure would authorize the district to restore the regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

North Mason Regional Fire Authority asks voters to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value as the current levy rate has dropped to 81 cents per $1,000 due to the statutory 1% limitation on property tax increases.

Statewide, the 27 candidates for governor will be reduced to two finalists. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, faces 10 challengers.

July 29 is the last day to receive new voter registration and updates online or by mail. After July 29, new voter registration and updates must be done in person by 8 p.m. Aug. 6.

The election is scheduled to be certified at 2 p.m. Aug. 20.

Ballot drop boxes are at the Mason County Auditor’s Office in the alley next to 411 N. 5th St. in downtown Shelton and inside the building; a drive-through at Shelton Family YMCA at 3101 N. Shelton Springs Road; Fire District 4 station at 3660 S.E. Old Olympic Highway in Kamilche; a drive-through at the Fire District 16 station at 4650 W. Dayton-Airport Road in Dayton; the Horton Community Center at 4350 Grapeview Loop Road in Grapeview; the Port of Allyn headquarters at 18560 E. state Route 3; the north precinct office of Mason County Sheriff’s at 460 N.E. Old Belfair Highway in Belfair; the Chevron station at 1031 E. McReavy Road in Union; a drive-through at the Twin Totems store at 19390 U.S. Highway 101 on the Skokomish reservation; and at the Hood Canal Visitor Center at 150 N. Lake Cushman Road in Hoodsport.