Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.


 Candidate Forums for General Election November 4, 2025



Concise, unbiased questions submitted by the public and directly related to the candidates’ positions and policies were given priority, and similar questions were combined. We strive to ensure that questions reflect a wide range of concerns from our county’s multiple constituencies.


Video recordings on YouTube of all forums are now available.  Links are provided for each forum listed below.


For additional information on these forums, please contact the League of Women Voters-Jefferson County at:

lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com



        Forum Details


        Thursday Oct 23, 2025


        Port Townsend School Board Position 4


        Amanda Grace & Tim Hawley


        CLICK HERE for VIDEO of FORUM

             


        Wednesday Oct 22, 2025


        Quilcene School Board District 2

        Jon Cooke & Naomi Stern

        CLICK HERE for VIDEO of FORUM

              

        Tuesday Oct 21, 2025

        Port Townsend Port Commissioner District 2

        Clayborn Burleson & Carol Hasse

        CLICK HERE for VIDEO of FORUM

            


        Thursday, Oct 16, 2025 


        East Jefferson Hospital Commissioner Position 3


         Stuart Kerber & Matt Ready


        CLICK HERE for VIDEO of FORUM

             


        Wednesday, July 16, 2025


        Port Townsend City Council Position 1 (Primary Election)


        Fred Obee & Dylan Quarles*


        CLICK HERE for VIDEO of FORUM



        * Candidate Mikki Porter was unable to participate and was represented by a member of his election committee who gave opening and closing statements on his behalf but did not answer questions.


        For questions about candidate forums, please contact the League of Women Voters-Jefferson County at lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com.





        Do YOU want to get more involved in Jefferson County decisions?

        Here's a list of public meetings to attend, either in person or virtually.

        Make your voice heard!

        Click here to see the spreadsheet.



        Curious about running for office?

        The following transcripts give you an idea of what the jobs involve. 

                  Port Commissioner Information Session Transcript.pdf

                  School Board Information Session Transcript.pdf

                  City Council Information Session Transcript.pdf


        Youth Engagement

        High School Student Essay Contest  


        2025 Contest Winners



        Congratulations to our Top Three!


                    1st place - Claire Porter  - Port Townsend High School

                    2nd place - Livia Lee Port Townsend High School

                    3rd place - Calliope Mosher - Chimacum High School


        Click Here to Read the Winning Essays


        Want to encourage civic engagement and support the young people of this community? Join the LWVJC and be a part of the Essay Team. (The Contest is Open to Any High School Aged Person In Jefferson County.)

        Or, or donate to the prize fund.  Mark your checks with "Essay Contest" and mail them to LWV/Jefferson County, P.O. Box 707, Port Townsend WA 98368.


        2024 Contest Winners


        Congratulations to everyone who thought deeply about the political issues they care about and wrote about them in this year's essay contest. 


        Winners are:


        1st Place - Sitka Vicha Chimacum High School

        2nd Place - Calliope Mosher Chimacum High School

        3rd Place - Kepler Edmundson - Port Townsend High School


        Thank you again, students, for the time and attention you paid to the pressing issues facing us, and thank you for sharing your views.


        Read the Winning Essays Here!





        Curious about the League of Women Voters?

        The Jefferson County Unit-At-Large focuses on Voter Education. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16 who is willing to abide by our policies, as set forth by the League of Women Voters of the United States.

        1. Political Policy

        The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. You can still be active with any political party you choose, but while you are conducting League business, you leave your personal politics at the door. 

        2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy 

        LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy. 

        There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic.

        3. Organizational Structure

        As a Unit-at-Large, we function under the greater auspices of the LWVWA. We are governed by a chair, a treasurer, and a secretary, and all other work is conducted via ad-hoc teams and by group consensus. All documents coming from the LWVJC UAL are coordinated with the entire membership for full transparency. Our leadership is chosen at our annual meeting each spring. We defer to the rulings of LWVWA and LWVUS on all other matters of policy


        VOTE by mail


        Refresh Yourself on

        Voting Procedures

        Click here for a video explaining the parts of the ballot and how to make sure it all gets in the envelope correctly and signed.

        Are you a caregiver?

        Click here to review rules for helping the person you care for vote.



        Jefferson County

        Ballot Box Locations


        Quinault Nation (Queets)

        In front of the Queets Tribal Office


        Quilcene Community Center

        294952 Highway 101, Quilcene


        Nordland Fire Station

        6633 Flagler Road, Nordland,

        Marrowstone Island


        Port Hadlock

        Jefferson County Library

        620 Cedar Ave, Port Hadlock


        Port Townsend

        Jefferson County Courthouse

        1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend

        3 on site:

        • in the back parking lot, 
        • in front of the building
        • outside the County Auditor’s Office


        Hoh Nation

        2261 Lower How Road, Forks

        (In front of the Tribal Police Center)


        Port Ludlow

        Gateway Visitor Center

        93 Beaver Valley Road, Port Ludlow


        Brinnon

        Community Center

        306144 Highway 101, Brinnon



        The League of Women Voters is Nonpartisan

        What Does that Mean?




        Since 1920, the League of Women Voters has been a grassroots organization whose leaders believe that people should play a critical, active role in democracy.

        The League focuses on issues, not politicians or political parties. The League conducts detailed, year-long studies on issues before adopting a stance.

        We are happy to talk with you regarding Impact on Issues 2024-2026, our guiding policy document. If you like fact-based decision-making, you might want to join the League.

        What Could You Do In the League?

        • Help with the annual essay contest for high school students.

        • Learn to organize and run candidate forums for local elections.

        • Serve as an Election Observer

        • Register people to vote

        • Participate in Advocacy / Lobbying

        Contact

        lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com

        OUR PARTNERS

        We greatly appreciate your support of our partners:

        AAUW-PT

        The American Association of University Women Port Townsend

        KPTZ 91.9 FM

        Port Townsend's Community Radio




        Already a member and need to pay dues or update your contact information? 

        Click Here to Access Your Account

        Do you Want to join The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County? 

        Membership is open to all persons residing in Jefferson County.


        Click here to create an account -or- email us a lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com to get started, particularly if you are interested in a team-builder membership.

        When you sign up to be a new member or when existing members sign in to pay their dues, remember that there is a place both to pay dues (which can be as little as $20) and to donate extra money to your local league.  

        Dues include membership in LWVUS and LWVWA and help pay for all the League's litigation efforts in support of voting rights.

        If you have more ideas than money, we have team-builder memberships for you. Email us to ask how.

        Email us at lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com with any questions.

        OUR MAILING ADDRESS

        LWV/Jefferson County
        P.O. Box 707
        Port Townsend, WA 98368







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