If you’ve ever wanted to get into city-level politics, this might be the year for you: a total of 13 city council positions, three mayoral seats, and six school board seats are up for grabs this year across Enumclaw, Buckley, and Black Diamond, promising an exciting election season.

But deadlines are right around the corner, so anyone planning to race should likely start lacing up those shoes, if they haven’t already hit the ground running.

Luckily, King County has one last elections workshop for anyone who needs a leg up; the Zoom workshop is scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, head to bit.ly/kingworkshops (note that this session will have information specifically for Seattle-area candidates).

If you can’t attend, however, here’s some additional information you may need to become your city’s next public figure.

IMPORTANT DATES

The first thing potential candidates need to know is when their county’s deadlines are for various election requirements.

Primary among those dates is filing week, which in King and Pierce County is May 17 – 21.

Both counties allow potential candidates to file online on their respective websites (https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/329/Candidates, https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/for-candidates.aspx) but you can also file in person; King County’s election office closest to the Plateau is in Renton at 919 SW Grady Way, and Pierce County’s is in Tacoma at 2501 S 35th Street, Suite C.

Keep in mind that filing for a city council or mayoral position often comes with a filing fee. In Enumclaw, filing to run for mayor is $120, and for city council, $39. Over in Black Diamond, filing for mayor is also $120, but for council candidates, only $19.20. Finally, Buckley residents running for mayor have to pay a filing fee of $60, and $30 for council positions. School board candidates do not have to pay a filing fee.

For those who do file, but change their minds, the deadline to withdraw is May 24 in both counties.

On the heels of filing week is the deadline for voter pamphlet information, which candidates in both counties must submit by May 28. However, King County allows candidates to change their photo and/or statement for the general election any time between July 19 and Aug. 6.

The word limit for Pierce County candidate statements is capped at 200 words (with another 100 for biographical information; for King County candidates, the limit is 150 words.

After submitting voter pamphlet information, candidates will be emailed a copy of the pamphlet for review on June 11; any revisions that need to be made are due June 14.

WHO IS UP FOR ELECTION?

The city of Enumclaw

• Mayor Jan Molinaro (intends to file)

• Council Pos. No. 1, Corrie Koopman Frazier

• Council Pos. No. 3, Kael Johnson (does not intend to file)

• Council Pos. No. 5, Tom Sauvageau (intends to file)

• Council Pos. No. 7, Hoke Overland (does not intend to file)

The city of Black Diamond

• Mayor Carol Benson (intends to file)

• Council Pos. No. 2, Melissa Oglesbee (undecided)

• Council Pos. No. 3, Chris Wisnoski

• Council Pos. No. 4, Leih Mulvihill

• Council Pos. No. 6, Bernie O’Donnell (intends to file)

• Council Pos. No. 7, Debbie Page (intends to file)

The Enumclaw School District

• District No. 2, Jennifer Watterson

• District No. 4, Melynda O’Brien

• District No. 5, Bryan Stanwood

The city of Buckley

• Mayor Pat Johnson (does not intend to file)

• Council Pos. No. 1, Ron Smith (intends to file for either his seat or for the mayoral position)

• Council Pos. No. 2, Connie Bender (intends to file)

• Council Pos. No. 3, Luke Wilbanks (does not intend to file)

• Council Pos. No. 7, vacant

The White River School District

• District No. 1, Michael Jansen

• District No. 3, Denise Vogel

• District No. 4, Cassandra Pearson