By GEORGE KUNKE, geoakunke@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 11:55 am

SOUTH BEND - There are several significant races in north Pacific County in the 2021 General Election. Throughout the entire county, there are 77 candidates running for a total of 64 offices. The election is Tuesday, November 2. Ballots will be mailed from the auditor's office to the post offices today.

Perhaps the biggest race in north county is for mayor in Raymond, where incumbent Dee Roberts takes on against challenger Kirk Church.

In South Bend there is one key city council race for council position member 5, Short & Full with former South Bend Police Sergeant Rich Pearson going up against Clarence D. Williams.

There is also an engrossing race for Raymond School District (#116) Director District 1, a regular four-year post with Dick Hagain and Jim Olsen squaring off.

Also in the Raymond School District, Jason D. McVey and Carrie Thompson will do battle for a director spot in District 3, another regular, four-year term.

In the Willapa Valley School District (#160), there are two candidates vying for the Director District 4 At Large Regular four-year stint in Pat Matlock and Alyssa Rowlett.

Willapa Harbor Hospital (District 2) has an interesting race for commissioner, a regular six-year stint with Gary Schwiesow facing off against Jeffrey S. Nevitt.

Unopposed Races

However, unfortunately for voters, there are too many unchallenged contests on the local level. For instance, in Raymond there are five races open for city council, but all are of the uncontested variety, including: City Council Member 1, Regular (Ryan Porter), Member 2, Short & Full (Heidi Worlton), Member 4, Regular (Chris Halpin), Member 5, Regular (Tony Nordin), Member 7, Short & Full (Steve Jones). All are four-year terms.

In South Bend, three four-year term races have no opposition. Mayor Julie Struck is running unopposed and two council incumbents are also running unopposed, including Member 3, Regular (Patricia Nieve), and Member 4, Regular (Jan Hall Davis).

In the Willapa Valley School District (#160), there are three candidates running without opposition, including: Director District 1, Regular, 4 yrs (Ryan Jerles), Director District 2, Unexpired, 2 yrs (Tyler Lundy), and Director District 5, At Large, Regular, 4 yrs (Dave Frasier).

In the South Bend School District (#118), there are two positions with no opposing candidates, including Director Position 4 At Large (Andrew B. Seaman) and Director District 3, (Chuck Spoor). Both are regular, four-year positions.

One director position on the Raymond School Board (#116) has only one candidate running for Director Position 5 in Pebbles Williams for another four-year term.
There are also four fire district commissioner positions having no opposition, including: Fire District #3 Position 2, Unexpired, 2 yrs (Shawn Aust), Fire District 3, Position 3, Regular, 6 yrs (Leonard Rex Hutchins), Fire District 6, Position 3, Short & Full, 6 yrs (Hugh Ahnatook), and Fire District 7, Position 1, Regular, 6 yrs (Andrea Shotwell).

Patti Lignoski is also running without opposition in the Port of Willapa Harbor Commissioner District 1, Regular race; it is a six-year position.

There is even an unopposed race in Water District W for Commissioner Position 1, where Donald L. Porter is seeking a regular four-year term.