Longtime Kitsap County Election Manager Dolores Gilmore announced  her bid for county auditor on March 21.

County Auditor Walt Washington announced his retirement earlier this year.

Gilmore has worked more than 30 years for the county and has held several management positions in the auditor’s office. She has been a certified elections administrator since 2005.

As elections administrator, Gilmore has applied for and received grants totaling more than $500,000 to improve elections, voter registration equipment and services.

She also has administered more than 80 elections and 21 successful recounts.

“I step away from office with 100 percent confidence that Dolores, as my successor, is the best fit for Kitsap County,” said Washington. “Her knowledge, leadership and experience have prepared her to advance and build on the good government philosophies of my administration and those of my predecessor, Karen Flynn.”

In a statement, Gilmore said she is committed to ensuring that one of the most basic rights of our democracy works as intended — which is the power of the vote belongs to the people, not to a government agency — and how elections are administered matters.

Filing is scheduled during May and the primary election is Aug. 5.

Gilmore is planning a campaign kick-off event from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Hale’s Alehouse in Silverdale. The public is encouraged to attend.