Three in running to replace Wolfe

Frank Wolfe

SOUTH BEND - The search to replace District 2 Pacific County Commissioner Frank Wolfe was reduced to three candidates by members of the Democratic Party at a meeting last Friday in Naselle.

The three candidates include Dave Tobin, 67, Long Beach, who is retired from the Ocean Beach School District; Keli Lucero, 45, Ocean Park, of DPR Builders & Developers Inc in Ocean Park; and Diana Thompson, 75, Oysterville, is a former Pacific County PUD Commisioner.

Now the two active active Pacific County Commissioners (Lisa Olsen and Jerry Doyle) will decide whom to choose to replace Wolfe. If there is no agreement between Olsen and Doyle, the process moves to the governor, and he chooses, which happened in Cowlitz County early last year.

"We hope to come to a decision soon," Olsen told the Herald. "We will set times to meet with each of them so we can make a decision. I am hopeful that we can have a new commissioner by February 1."

According to Olsen, "After the selection, the appointed person will have to file to run to continue the position during filing week in May. At that time, it is the regular process and anyone else interested that lives within the boundaries of District 2 may file during that week also. Because this is the halfway point in that term, whoever is elected in November will have to run again the next year for the following four-year cycle."

Wolfe, a Democrat, was forced to resign his position as commissioner December 31 because of Lyme disease. Wolfe, 73, who was re-elcted in 2020, had two years remaining on his term.