Prospective candidates for the 2021 election had to file a Declaration of Candidacy by the 4:30 p.m.deadline today, May 21.
Auburn voters will cast their vote for six elected officials. Four of the seven positions are City of Auburn elected officials – Mayor and City Council Position No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6. The two other positions are Auburn School District No. 408 Director District No. 3 and No. 5.
City of Auburn
Current Deputy Mayor Claude DaCorsi is not running for re-election. He currently holds City of Auburn City Council Position No. 2. Two candidates have filed for the Deputy Mayor’s position, Wendee R. Odell and Kate Baldwin.
With eyes on her third term, incumbent Yolanda Trout-Manuel will face three candidates during the primary, Hanan Amer, Andrea Niemeyer, and Evan Sipple. The top two candidates from the August primary will continue on to the November general election.
Update: Evan Sipple has withdrawn from the election since Friday’s filing deadline.
Larry Brown currently faces no opposition in his bid for reelection.
Nancy Backus announced her bid for a third term in March. Though some have been vocal in their opposition to Backus being reelected, no candidate filed to run against the incumbent Mayor. Running unopposed will be very different than the highly contentious 2017 mayoral election Backus won.
Best Laid Plans
Pastor LaShund Lambert had planned to run for DaCorsi’s position but ultimately was unable as he lives in the Island of Kent (aka The Bridges). The Bridges is a small community on Lea Hill that by all appearances is a part of Auburn, but is actually a portion of Kent. The two cities have been in discussions for several years regarding Auburn annexing the community.
Though technically a resident of Kent, Lambert is not deterred from serving Auburn. “Though I am greatly disappointed at not being able to run for city council, I will continue to serve my city in every way that I can including the Police Advisory Committee,” Lambert said. “My kids go to school in Auburn, our house has an Auburn mailing address and I Pastor here.”
Auburn School District School Board
Only one of the two Auburn School Board Director Positions are a contested race. Tracy Arnold is running unopposed for School Board Position No. 5. Dirk Dearinger and Melissa J. Laramie will face off for School Board Position No. 3.
Algona and Pacific
The City of Algona has two City Council races on the ballot and both are uncontested. Lynda L. Osborn is running for City Council Position No. 2 and Gordon Cook for City Council Position No. 4.
The City of Pacific has four City Council Positions on the ballot this year. However, only two of the four are contested. Kerry G. Garberding is the sole candidate for Council Position No. 2 and Lawrence Boles, III for Council Position No. 5. Running for Council Position No. 4 are Vic Kave and Gary Nitschke. Rounding out the Pacific ballot are Eric Petersen and Don W. Thomson running for Council Position No. 7.
Other Important Races
Voters will have more than just the Auburn, Algona, and Pacific races to consider in August and November, including:
- King County Executive
- Metropolitan King County, Council District No. 7
- Metropolitan King County, Council District No. 5
- Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 1
- Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 3
- Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 4
- Port of Tacoma Commissioner Position No. 1
- Port of Tacoma Commissioner Position No. 2
- Port of Tacoma Commissioner Position No. 4
- Court of Appeals, Division I, District No. 1 Judge Position No. 3
- King County Superior Court Judge Position No. 47
See who filed here: Vote 2021
Important Dates
July 26: Last day to register to vote or update your registration online or by mail
Primary Election: August 3, 2021
October 25: Last day to register to vote or update your registration online or by mail
General Election: November 2, 2021
Be an informed voter with our Vote 2021 coverage this year: https://auburnexaminer.com/vote-2021/
Updated: This article was last updated Monday, May 24.
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