Community Government

Candidate filing for 2023 election is May 15 through May 19

Candidate filing week for the 2023 elections is May 15 through May 19. And while 2023 is a so-called “off-year” election, many local offices will be contested in November. 

On the ballot this fall will be three Gig Harbor City Council posts; three Peninsula School Board positions; one Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One commissioner; and one Peninsula Metropolitan Park District commissioner. 

Two Key Peninsula Fire District commission positions and one Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District post are also up in 2023. 

Candidates can file online between 9 a.m. Monday, May 15, and 4 p.m. Friday, May 19. To be eligible, a candidate must be a registered voter in the district in which they are filing. 

For information about filing to run for office, see the Pierce County Elections Office’s website. 

Gig Harbor City Council 

City Council posts up for election this fall include Position 4, currently held by Mary Barber; Position 5, held by Julie Martin; and Position 6, held by Le Rodenberg.  

Gig Harbor Council positions are non-partisan and are elected on an at-large basis to serve four-year terms. 

Both Barber and Rodenberg have registered 2023 campaigns with the state Public Disclosure Commission, which tracks campaign fundraising and spending. Barber also announced her candidacy on her website. 

Martin was appointed to her position in January to replace Robyn Denson, who was elected to the Pierce County Council in November 2022. Martin has not publicly announced her intentions but said while interviewing for the position in January that she was open to standing for election. 

Peninsula School Board 

School Board positions up this fall include those representing Director District 1, occupied by Chuck West; Director District 3, occupied by Lori Glover; and Director District 4, occupied by Natalie Wimberley. 

District 1 is the Key Peninsula west of 118th Street. Rosedale, Gig Harbor North, Maplewood and areas east of Crescent Valley Drive are part of District 3. District 4 includes Artondale, Fox Island and Raft Island. See a map of district boundaries here. 

School board members must live in the district they represent. They serve four-year terms.

Wimberly and Glover have registered with the PDC for possible re-election bids. 

GHFMO and PenMet 

Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Commissioner Position 2, currently held by David Wilsie is also up this year. Fire commissioners serve six-year terms. Wilsie is the vice-chairman of the GHFMO board and an assistant fire chief with Tacoma Fire Department. 

PenMet Commissioner Position 5, currently held by Amanda Babich, also is on this fall’s ballot. PenMet commissioners serve six-year terms.