Primary election forums planned

Several voter-education events are set

By Jessie Stensland • July 14, 2023 1:30 am

With the primary election just a few weeks away, the season for candidate forums has begun.

Voters will soon be receiving their ballots in the mail for the Aug. 1 primary. The deadline for the elections office to mail the standard ballots was July 14, and the last day to register to vote in the primary is July 24.

Voters who live in Oak Harbor will see four different races on their ballots in the primary election — namely the mayor, two council positions and a position on the school board. The primary will winnow the candidates down to two per position.

One candidate announced Thursday that she is pulling out of the race. Wismine D’Avilar isn’t seeking the Position 4 council seat, though her name will still appear on the primary ballot, according to City Administrator Blaine Oborn.

The League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island is hosting a virtual candidates forum on all four races at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19. People can attend via a Zoom link that will be posted at lwvwhidbey.org a day in advance of the event.

Four candidates are running for mayor: Nick Green, owner of a limo service; Councilmember Shane Hoffmire; Craig Nurvic, a teacher and coach; and Ronnie Wright, an accountant and owner of an accounting firm.

The three candidates for Position 2 on the city council are Andy Plumlee, Pat Harman and Chris Wiegenstein. The candidates for Position 4 are John Chaszar and Barbara Armes.

In addition, the three candidates for Position 5 on the Oak Harbor School Board are Sharon Jensen, Aisha Mayfield and Will Smith.

Regency on Whidbey is hosting three different candidate forums on the city government races prior to the primary election. All of the forums, which are open to the public, will be at 10-11 a.m. in the Regency on Whidbey Activity Room at 1040 SW Kimball Drive.

Regency’s first forum is Monday, July 17 and will feature the candidates for mayor.

The second forum, featuring candidates for Position 2 on the council, will be Wednesday, July 26. The final primary forum, with candidates for council Position 4, is scheduled for Monday, July 31.