Candidates Set For 2019 Election In Bonney Lake, Sumner

BONNEY LAKE, WA — On Monday, the last day to officially withdraw from the 2019 primary election in August, six people remained vying for positions on the Bonney Lake City Council — three of whom are incumbents running unopposed.

Among the positions available, only Council Position Four is contested, with three candidates indicating their desire to run for the seat being left open by outgoing councilman James Rackley. Serving Bonney Lake as a city councilman since 2000, Rackley's latest term expires in December.

According to the Washington Secretary of State, candidates Pablo Monroy, Kerri Hubler, and James "Kelly" McClimans have entered the race to succeed Rackley.

The only candidates who've submit their names for openings on council positions two, five, and seven are the current incumbent council members: Justin Evans (Pos. 2), Tom Watson (Pos. 5), and Michelle Surdez (Pos. 7).

In Sumner, five candidates are running for four open seats. Among them, only one candidate is not incumbent and only one race is uncontested.

Running to retain their seats are Patrick Reed (Pos. 4), Cindi Hochstatter (Pos. 5), Curt Brown (Pos. 6), and Earle Stuard (Pos. 7). Stuard, however, is being challenged by newcomer Charla Rae Neuman.

Regarding the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District board member elections, five candidates are running for three positions. Three of the candidates are incumbent.

Competing to retain his position as Director of District 2 is incumbent Paul S. Williams, who is running against John Losey Jr.

Running unopposed to retain his position as Director of District 3 is Richard Hendricks.

And challenging incumbent Director of District 4 Danun "Dee" Clark is newcomer Kevin Lewis.

Races in nearby Buckley and Auburn as of Monday showed the potential for contested council races as well.

In Auburn, seats available for council positions two and seven were both contested by two candidates each: James Jeyaraj and Ken Pearson for Pos. 3, and incumbent Robert O. "Bob" Baggett and Vera Orlandic-Hodak for Pos. 7.

Auburn City Council Position Five previously had four candidates running, but Orlandic-Hodak reportedly withdrew her name on May 17 and re-submit her candidacy for Council Pos. 7. With Orlandic-Hodak out of the running for position five, that leaves Anthony Ase, Ryan Burnett, and Robyn Mulenga remaining on the ballot.

The only person running for City Council Position One is Chris Stearns. He hopes to replace outgoing councilwoman Largo Wales, who's served the city since 2012.

In Buckley, eight candidates have filed for the four council positions up for grabs. There were nine until last Friday, when one of the candidates for Council Position Seven withdrew his name.

Running for Council Position Four are Amanda Burbank and incumbent Beau Burkett.

Council Position Five is sought by Lyn Rose, David B. Lewis, and Chloe E. Mickelson. They each hope to replace outgoing councilman John Leggett.

Newcomers Marvin Sundstrom and Berkley Bachmeier are competing for Council Position Six, which is being vacated by outgoing councilman Milt Tremblay.

And finally, incumbent City Councilwoman Sandy Burkett is now running unopposed to retain her seat for Council Position Seven, following Jason Sulkosky's withdrawal from candidacy on May 17.

For more information on Washington's elections, visit www.sos.wa.gov/elections.