All sheriff candidates will attend Q&A at Salmon BBQ and Tea Party July 31 at the Big Red Barn

About 16 candidates for eight elected positions — including all five candidates for San Juan County sheriff — will attend the Salmon BBQ and Tea Party on July 31 — Saturday — 2-6 p.m., at the Big Red Barn, 1721 Cattle Point Road in Friday Harbor.

The event is open to the public. A salmon dinner is available for a donation. Call 378-3843 to RSVP.

Jonah Goldberg, editor of National Review Online, conservative author and political analyst, will be the featured speaker.

The following candidates and groups will be represented:

— U.S. Senate: Paul Akers, Clint Didier.

— U.S. House of Representatives: John Koster.

— State Supreme Court: Jim Johnson, Richard Sanders.

— State House, 40th District, positions 1 and 2: Dusty Gullison, Donna Miller, Mike Newman, John Swapp.

— San Juan County Sheriff: Jeff Asher, Brad Fincher, Brent Johnson, Felix Menjivar, Rob Nou.

— San Juan County Council: Jerry Gonce (Lopez/Shaw), Rich Peterson (San Juan North).

— Organizations: Citizen Action Network, Citizens Alliance for Property Rights, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Freedom Works, National Center for Constitutional Studies, Pacific Legal Foundation.

Ballots go out this week for the Aug. 17 primary. The top two vote-getters — regardless of party affiliation — in each race will advance to the Nov. 2 general election.

"If you believe in the traditional American values of Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility, Personal Responsibility, and National Sovereignty then you should come to the Tea Party and find out more," said an e-mailed event invitation.

Participants will be able to sign up for the National Center for Constitutional Studies' Constitution Seminar scheduled on Sept. 11; meet the candidates and ask them questions; view draft horses and antique farm machinery; and stroll the grounds of a working farm.

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