All Bainbridge reps file for re-election

Published 5:21 pm Monday, June 7, 2010

Monday kicked off filing week for potential candidates for the 2010 election. Candidates have until Friday at 5 p.m. to insert themselves into the running for the Aug. 17 primary.

Thus far, all local representatives have filed for re-election.

The biggest surprise of the week has come from Schalk Leonard, a 50-year old Poulsbo resident. He threw his hat into the U.S. Senate race Monday. He is one of six challengers who have filed for incumbent Patty Murray’s spot.

Leonard, a lawyer and retired member of the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said he wants to promote job growth and energy independence, and transparency will be an overarching theme of his campaign. He is not accepting donations because he wants to avoid the label of “career congressman.”

“That’s why people don’t trust congress, because they don’t think their congressmen are busy representing their values,” Leonard told the North Kitsap Herald this week.

Leonard is listed as an independent.

State Rep. Christine Rolfes will be challenged by Bainbridge resident James M. Olsen and Poulsbo resident Aaron Winters, both of whom identify as republicans. Rep. Sherry Appleton will be challenged by Pete DeBoer, a Kingston port commissioner, who made his intention to run known in January.

David D. Schirle of Olympia has registered as an independent candidate for Congressional District 1, which is currently held by Rep. Jay Inslee. Two Republicans, James Watkins, a business development consultant, and Matthew Burke, a financial planner and Tea Party member, have announced their intentions to run, but only Burke has filed.

The top two vote-earners in each race, regardless of political party, will move onto the General Election to be held Nov. 2.

Individuals can follow the process by checking websites for the state and Kitsap County candidates.