Updated as of 4:20 p.m., Friday, May 17.

With Grays Harbor County candidate filings nearly completed Friday, it looks like at least four mayoral races are headed for primaries, there will be a countywide port commission race on the fall ballot as well as key council and school board races in just about every community. Races with three or more candidates will have primaries in August, with the top two candidates advancing to the November General Election.

Offices that drew no candidates at all will have a special three-day filing period next week.

In Aberdeen’s mayoral race, it will be a four-person race, now that Janae Chhith, who previously ran for city council, has filed for mayor. The other candidates are incumbent Mayor Erik Larson, council member Peter Schave and Council President Tawni Andrews.

In Ocean Shores, council member Susan Conniry filed Friday afternoon to make a four-person race. Incumbent Mayor Crystal Dingler, Carlos Roldan and Dan Marlowe filed earlier.

Cosmopolis has a four-way mayoral race, Cheryl Turner added her name Friday, joining Kyle Pauley, Steve Davis and Mark Collett.

Hoquiam City Council member Greg Grun filed to run as a third candidate in the Hoquiam mayor’s race, joining the incumbent Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff and another council member Ben Winkelman.

Al Dick filed for the Ward 4 seat being vacated by Winkelman.

Many notable positions are either still unfilled or don’t have any competition. On Friday afternoon, Joshua Francy filed for Schave’s council seat in Ward 5, and is the only candidate at 4:30 p.m.

Other races for the Aberdeen City Council stayed the same on the final day, and it looks like some new faces will be appointed for two positions: Nathan Kennedy and David Gakin have filed in Ward 2 for the seat held by Kathi Prieto, who has said she isn’t running; Kati Kachman and Dave Deakin have filed for the Ward 3 seat held by Jeff Cook. There’s a three-way race so far in Ward 4: Deborah Ross, incumbent Margo Shortt and Tara Mareth.

The race for Port Commissioner 2 became more interesting Friday, as Tim Carr filed to challenge Tom Quigg, the other person to file.

Former Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson has filed for a seat on the Hospital District 2 board. The board operates Grays Harbor Community Hospital. Scott Dilley of Montesano filed for the seat earlier in the week. The incumbent, Melanie Sturgeon filed Thursday, which means an August primary in that race.

“I want to make sure the hospital stays here,” said Simpson. He said things need to be improved and changed to accomplish that. Dilley announced his candidacy on his Facebook page Wednesday, saying in part, “My motivation for seeking this position is to use my abilities to give back to our community.” Dilly is currently the communication director for the Washington State Dairy Federation.

Three candidates have already filed for the Hospital District’s District 3 seat held by Miles Logenbaugh, who had not filed as of Friday afternoon. The three who have are Lynn Csernotta, Al Smith and Richard Thompson.

Several cities’ council member races heated up a little Friday. Elma council member Jim Taylor filed Friday morning for re-election, and will face off against Josh Collette for Position 5.

The race for Ocean Shores’s city council positions heated up with Frank Elduen and Dennis Schulte filing Friday for Position 3, making it a four-way race with Richard Willis and John Schroeder. Position 7 also got more contested Friday, with Brian Ferguson filing to challenge David Linn and Eric Noble. In position 4, Eva Russell and Lorraine Hardin filed Friday to challenge incumbent Jon Martin.

For McCleary’s Position 2 City Council race, Synthicy Omega filed Friday to challenge Jenna Amsbury, the only other person running. In Oakville, Allen Werth filed to challenge Julie Zehe for city council Position 4. In McCleary, a two way mayoral race will see incumbent Brenda Orffer will face Jeffrey Prowse.

In Westport, incumbent mayor Rob Bearden will be challenged by Joseph Whitmore, who filed late Friday.

In the Aberdeen School Board races, both Erin Farrer and Jeff Nelson did not run for re-election to the board. William “Doc” Carter, a well-known former Aberdeen High School teacher, filed Friday for the Position 3 race where he’s currently set to face off against Jessica Jurasin.

In Fire District 5, Monica Thomas filed Friday to challenge Dave Hauge for Position 3. In Fire District 15, Gerald Mertl filed Friday to challenge Jessica Nelson for that six-year position.

An interesting race is shaping up in Fire District 2, the area from Central Park east to Montesano. Former Fire District 2 commissioner Dale E. Hensley has filed to run against incumbent Paul Dean in that district’s Position 2. Hensley is a former Aberdeen firefighter and paramedic; Dean recently retired after 38 years with the Hoquiam Fire Department and was assistant chief for 10 years and chief from 2012 to his retirement in October 2018.

For more information and a list of candidates who have filed with the county, go tinyurl.com/GHC-Candidates.