King County and other local government entities are ramping up for the soon-to-be primary election. The filing deadline for candidates in county, city and school district elections ended on Friday evening, May 17.
There are many positions open in local city council races to the Tahoma School Board. Voter registration deadline to participate in this election is July 29, according to the King County Elections website. Ballots are due by Election Day Aug. 6.
The top two candidates from each race will move on to the November election, which is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Covington City Council Candidates:
There are five positions open on the Covington City Council.
Council Position No. 1
- Incumbent Marlla Mhoon
- Kristina Soltys
Council Position No. 2
- Appointed incumbent Jennifer Harjehausen
- Elizabeth Porter
Council Position No. 3
- Jared Koukal
- Incumbent Margaret L. Harto
Council Position No. 5
- Sean D. Smith, incumbent
- Jonathan Ingram
Council Position No. 7
- Jeffrey Wagner, mayor, unopposed. Wagner officially announced he is seeking re-election on April 29 to be on the Covington City Council. Wagner has served on the city council since 2003.
Maple Valley City Council Candidates:
Maple Valley has four open positions on its council.
- Sean P. Kelly, mayor, unopposed
Council Position No. 3
- Incumbent Les Burberry
- Victoria Schroff
Council Position No. 5
- Incumbent Syd Dawson
- Richard Axtell
Council Position No. 7
- Linda Johnson, unopposed
Black Diamond City Council Candidates:
There currently three open spots on the Black Diamond City Council.
Council Position No. 1
- Tamie L. Boxx-Deady, unopposed
Council Position No. 3
- Hunter Cooper, unopposed
Council Position No. 5
- Incumbent Chris Wisnoski
- Kristiana de Leon
Tahoma School School Board candidates:
There are currently three positions open on the Tahoma School Board. Those positions include position No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. Board member Mary Jane Glaser who is currently in position No. 3, has not filed to run for this year’s election, and neither has Didem Pierson, who is currently in position No. 4.
Director District Position No. 2
- Katrina Montgomery, unopposed
Director District Position No. 3
- Malia Hollowell
- Jamie Fairbanks
Director District Position No. 4
- Pete Miller
- Stormy (Lea) Rigtrup
Kent School Board candidates:
Incumbent Vice President Debbie Straus announced at the May 8 Kent School Board meeting that after 12 years on the board, she will not run for re-election for District No. 3. She said she choose to not run again because she wants to focus more on her family.
Director District No. 3
- Leslie Kae Hamada, unopposed. Hamada has served on several committees within the Kent School District while mentoring and tutoring. She also said her daughter is a teacher.
Where to turn your ballot in:
- Covington Library located at 27100 164th Ave. SE Covington, WA 98042
- Hobart Food Market located at 20250 276th Ave. SE Maple Valley, WA 98038
- Tahoma School District Building located at 25720 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Road SE Maple Valley, WA 9803
