The filing period for the November Pierce County election will open from May 13 through May 17, and positions up for ballot include the Bonney Lake and Sumner mayoral seats, three city council seats in each city, and one seat on the East Pierce Fire and Rescue fire commission.

Bonney Lake

Elected seats in the mayor’s office and city council are nonpartisan and, as of April 2011, are “at-large,” meaning candidacy for particular council seats are not restricted to specific geographic sections of the city. The open seats are as follows:

The Bonney Lake mayor’s seat is currently held by Neil Johnson. The position carries a four-year term — as do all open city council seats — and the filing fee for candidacy is $96.

Council Position No. 1 is currently held by Randy McKibbin. The filing fee for candidacy is $48.

Council Position No. 3 is currently held by Dan Swatman, who also serves as deputy mayor.

Council Position No. 6 is currently held by Donn Lewis.

Sumner

Elected seats in the mayor’s office and city council are nonpartisan and are “at-large,” meaning candidacy for particular council seats are not restricted to specific geographic sections of the city. The open seats are as follows:

The Sumner mayor’s seat is currently held by Dave Enslow. The position carries a four-year term — as do all open city council seats — and the filing fee for candidacy is $216. Candidacies are not determined until the filing period begins, but Enslow may be challenged by Councilman Randy Hynek as indicated by comments made by Hynek during the April 1 city council meeting.

Council Position No. 1 is currently held by Ed Hannus. The filing fee for Sumner council seats is $90.

Council Position No. 2 is currently held by Randy Hynek.

Council Position No. 3 is currently held by Steve Allsop

East Pierce Fire Commission

East Pierce Fire and Rescue announced an open position on its Board of Fire Commissioners. Registered voters, who live within the fire district boundaries, are eligible to run for the position in an election set for November.

Prospective candidates must file for this position with the Pierce County Auditor’s Office between May 13 and May 17. If more than two candidates file, there will be a run-off election in August, and the top two candidates will move on to the November election.

Currently, there are eight East Pierce fire commissioners: Rick Kuss, Ed Egan, Karlyne McGinnis, Raymond Bunk, Kevin Garling, Ron Scholz, Mike Cathey and Dale Mitchell. Both Bunk and Garling are up for re-election this year. Only one position will be filled, as the number of board members continues to be reduced because of past mergers to the fire district.

Fire commissioners are citizens who are elected by the public to represent their fire district. They serve a six-year term, performing important duties in the management of a fire district, including setting policy for the department, hiring the fire chief and approving the department budget. Commissioners are the only ones who can authorize a levy request of the public they serve.

For the first time, Milton residents are eligible to run for fire commissioner. On May 7, the Pierce County Auditor’s Office certified the special election that annexed the City of Milton into East Pierce Fire and Rescue. Voters overwhelmingly approved a measure, with 85.74 percent of Milton residents voting in support the annexation. Among voters living in the East Pierce Fire District, 86.15 percent approved the measure.

The fire commissioners hold public meetings the third Tuesday of every month, primarily at the Bonney Lake Public Safety Building, 18421 Veterans Memorial Drive East. Check the East Pierce Fire and Rescue website for exact locations.

More information about the election and online filing is available at the Pierce County Auditor’s website under “Elections.”