Mayoral candidates waiting on the mail

POULSBO — With ballots being mailed last Thursday, one of the three candidates in Little Norway’s mayoral race will be out of the running once the votes are tallied after Sept. 20.

Unlike previous elections where voters could go to the polls on election day, this year’s primary is being done entirely by mail-in ballots, challenging candidates to find new ways to get their message out.

“It’s like hitting a moving target but I’m ready for this vote,” commented Councilwoman Kathryn Quade as she prepared to take a break over the Labor Day weekend.

However, Quade returned to the campaign trail Tuesday in her efforts to make sure residents vote.

“I think we need to get everybody to vote and I’m going to be beating the streets,” she said.

Voters have read a lot about each of the candidates in the newspapers and have had an opportunity to listen to each candidate as the primary approaches, Quade said.

“I think it’s going to come down to if people want status quo or want change,” she explained.

Councilman Mike Regis, who is also campaigning for the mayor’s seat, said he welcomes the all-mail primary system.

“It’s actually a benefit because you get your voter pamphlet and can turn the pages so you can read the differences between us,” Regis explained.

By having the information at hand, voters can make more informed decisions as they vote without getting lost in the numerous items on the ballot, he said.

“I think I’ve made myself pretty clear in the last six months where I’m coming from,” he said. “Everyone is going to have a good idea of the differences between us.”

While Quade and Regis viewed the change in the format as both a challenge and an opportunity, Mayor Donna Jean Bruce said it does little to alter her approach to the upcoming election.

“I don’t think it alters anything and it’s something new for everybody,” Bruce said. “Everything’s going well.”

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