POULSBO — Three incumbents will face challengers in the upcoming elections, while a new face appears poised to take office in January.

While all three challengers in the mayor’s race announced their intentions early, two councilmen will have to battle to keep their seats for another four years.

Mayor Donna Jean Bruce, Councilwoman Kathryn Quade and Councilman Mike Regis all filed for the mayor’s position early last week, adding importance to the Sept. 20 primary.

Councilman Ed Stern is being challenged by local resident Stan Kennedy, while Councilman Dale Rudolph will square off against community advocate Herb Kai. Poulsbo Tea House owner Kimberlee Crowder is the only candidate for Quade’s seat, which she is vacating to run for mayor.

Because of the state’s top-two primary system, all five council candidates will advance to the Nov. 8 general election, but only two of the mayoral candidates will meet in that election.

Being the only unopposed candidate in the upcoming city elections came as a surprise to Crowder, who had expected others to file for the empty council seat.

“I’m actually kind of surprised that no one chose to run against me,” Crowder said. “I’m obviously pleased because I wanted to be on the city council.”

Even though she is running unopposed, Crowder said she is still committed to getting out in the community and letting people know who she is as well as finding out what issues are important to them.

Stern, who first ran for council in 1997, greeted the news of facing a challenger as an opportunity for a healthy debate on the issues facing the city.

“Initially, I’m a little disappointed that more people didn’t file, because I think that does a disservice to the public,” Stern said.

Having an opponent loosens the constraints of formal discussion on the council level and allows for freer discussion of the issues, he explained.

“I’m less encumbered than I would have been when I had to follow protocol,” he said. “I want to see a healthy debate on the issues.”

As for his earlier promise of no campaign signs, Stern said even with an opponent, no signs will appear.

“I made a promise and I’m sticking to it,” Stern said.

Relative political newcomer Stan Kennedy said his pursuit of Position 5 is based on several issues including parking problems, the improvements to State Route 305 and maintaining a healthy, vibrant downtown.

“I’m not running against Ed as much as I’m running for that position,” Kennedy explained, when asked why he initially chose to run for Position 5 instead of the vacated Position 7.

The race for Position 6 pits two well-known residents against each other as both Kai and Rudolph have a common history of community involvement.

Rudolph is seeking his fourth term on the council and Kai has been a frequent community advocate at council meetings.

Finally, the battle for the mayor’s position pits three well-known community leaders against each other as two will advance from next month’s primary to move on to November’s general election.

Mayor Donna Jean Bruce is seeking a third term as the city’s top public official after taking the reigns when Mitch Mitchusson resigned in 1999. Bruce beat out challengers Regis and Sherry Appleton in 2001 to win her first elected term as mayor. (Bruce did not respond to calls from the Herald by press deadline).

This year, she faces some familiar faces in Councilman Regis and Councilwoman Quade.

For Regis, who is making his fourth bid for mayor, not much has changed after the filing deadline.

“It doesn’t feel any different than it did a month and a half or two months ago,” Regis remarked. “I’ve still got to get out there and do my doorbelling.”

One of the keys to this year’s primary will be ensuring that people mark their ballots and mail them in on time, he said.

“We need to make sure people remember to exercise their opportunity and vote,” he said.

Quade greeted the end of the filing period with a relative sense of relief as she prepared for another day of campaigning on Monday.

“I’ve been working really, really hard since January and now we know who all the players are,” Quade said.

Between now and the Sept. 20 election, Quade said she will continue going door-to-door and finding out what people want.

“I intend to keep as working as I’ve been working and am looking forward to making it through the primary,” she remarked.