POULSBO — If elected, he will not serve.

Literally.

You’ll see Steve Garfein’s name on the Nov. 7 ballot, but as he wrote in Kitsap County’s voters guide, he is not a candidate for the board of commissioners of Kitsap County Fire Protection District 18, aka Poulsbo Fire.

He signed a statement that he will not serve if he wins.

That leaves grocery store owner Jeff Uberuaga the lone candidate for a six-year term as commissioner from Position 3.

Garfein said he withdrew his candidacy a day too late to keep it off the ballot.

“They have a five-day cutoff once you file, and I didn’t know where to go to withdraw. I found the financial disclosure statement onerous. I understand why financial disclosure statements are necessary, but I would have withdrawn [by the deadline] if I could have,” he said.

Garfein is the founder and CEO of RPM Systems Corp. He served 10 years on the Poulsbo Fire Department’s Citizen Budget Review Committee, six years as a member of the Kitsap Aerospace and Defense Alliances steering committee, and is a past president of the Poulsbo Rotary Club.

He wrote in the voters guide, “I have chosen to withdraw my candidacy for Kitsap County Fire District No. 18, Commissioner Position 3. I regret that currently I am unable to devote the time necessary to be an effective Commissioner.”

Uberuaga co-owns Red Apple stores in Poulsbo and Bremerton, helped start a successful automotive dealership, and is a co-founder and board member of Liberty Bay Bank. He is a past member of the board of the Poulsbo Historical Society.

He succinctly wrote in the voters guide, “I would love the opportunity to serve my community as a Fire Commissioner.”

Barring a write-in challenge, he’ll get his chance.