By Pat Jenkins
The Dispatch
Not even extra time for them to sign up could produce any candidates in this year’s election for commissioner in three south Pierce County water districts.
As a result, the seven current commissioners can resign if they don’t want to continue beyond the scheduled end of their terms later this year, or they can remain in office for at least two more years without needing the permission of voters.
All three commissioner positions apiece in the Elbe Water District and the Kapowsin Water District and one commissioner in the Clear Lake Water District are up for election. None of them or any newcomers signed on to run when the standard five-day filing period for candidates was held by the Pierce County elections department in May. Nothing changed when a special three-day filing period was conducted July 10-12, so none of those offices will be on the ballot.
Unless the incumbents step down, they could stay in office almost indefinitely without facing voters. “Theoretically, it could be perpetual,” said County Auditor Julie Anderson, who oversees the elections department.
Anderson said the current officeholders can keep their seats for another two years, at which time another special filing period will be held. And there will be another filing period every two years after that “if still no one files,” she said.
That scenario can go on a long time. Anderson noted a commissioner for the Kopachuck Ridge Estates Water District near Gig Harbor has been in office since 1997 without appearing on a ballot. That’s the longest known streak in Pierce County for an incumbent being “elected without an election,” she said.
Water commissioners, who receive little if any compensation for helping oversee their districts' water systems, normally serve six-year terms, then either face re-election or leave office without running.
If two or more of the commissioners in the Elbe and Kapowsin districts decide to leave office when their current terms expire at the end of 2017, the vacancies they create would be filled through appointments by the County Council, said Mike Rooney, the county’s elections supervisor. That’s the procedure under state election laws.
Elbe’s incumbents are Jackie Chappell, Julie Clark and Gayle Adams. Two of Kopachuck’s positions are held by Tricia Hodge and Jeff Scott. The third one already is vacant.
The Clear Lake district can continue with its two commissioners who aren’t up for election if the one who is, Scott Jamison, doesn’t stick around.
The City of Roy, which also attracted no candidates for mayor or three City Council seats during the initial filing period, fared better the second time around. All the incumbents signed up. Nobody else did, so they’re virtually assured of being re-elected.
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