PACIFIC COUNTY — There are no federal or statewide races on the docket this November, but a handful of local elected offices are, ranging from mayor to port commissioner to school board member.

The 2025 election season formally gets underway with candidate filing week, which runs from May 5-9. Eligible residents can file to run for local public offices in south Pacific County that include Ilwaco mayor, Long Beach and Ilwaco council, Ocean Beach and Naselle-Grays River Valley school board, and several hospital, port and other local boards.

To file online beginning May 5, visit https://tinyurl.com/4sjrxb66. For information about the filing period and local elections, visit https://tinyurl.com/3kr25trd. Candidate filing forms can be found at https://bit.ly/3B7lp2c.

The Observer will have a recap of filing week and which local candidates have decided to run for office in its May 14 issue.

Ilwaco and Long Beach
One of the two mayorships on the peninsula is up for election this fall, while multiple council seats in both Ilwaco and Long Beach will also be on the ballot.

In Ilwaco, the mayor’s office is up for a new four-year term. The office is currently held by Mike Cassinelli, who was elected in 2021 after previously serving in the 2010s as well. The position carries a $60 fee for candidates who file to run.

Three of the five council seats in Ilwaco are also on the ballot, which are currently represented by Dave Cundiff, Margarita Cullimore and Jon Quittner. These positions carry a $24 filing fee. In Long Beach, two of the five council seats are also up for another four-year term. Those positions are currently held by Patrick Reddy and George Coleman, and carry a $36 filing fee.

School boards
Two of the five seats on the Ocean Beach School District Board of Directors are up for new four-year terms. Those positions are currently held by Nansen Malin and Tiffany Turner, and do not require a filing fee.

Three positions on the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District Board of Directors will be on the ballot, as well. Those seats are currently held by Amy Hunt, Natasha Crater and Lonnie Eaton, and also do not require a filing fee.

Hospital, port commissions
Two seats on the Ocean Beach Health Commission are up for new six-year terms. The positions are presently held by Sandra Stonebreaker and Ariel Smith, and do not require a filing fee.

Each of the three port commissions in south county also have a position on the ballot this November. The seat held by Butch Smith is up for the Port of Ilwaco Commission and carries a filing fee of $76.80, as are the posts currently held by Bill Derion for the Port of Peninsula ($34.20 filing fee) and Ross Youngs for the Port of Chinook (no filing fee).

Boards and commissions for other taxing districts throughout the county also have positions up for grab, including fire, water and sewer districts. A list of the local offices that are up for election this year can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/54pjaep9.