Dolores Gilmore has announced her campaign kick-off event to launch her bid for county auditor.

Gilmore will host a gathering from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at Hale’s Alehouse in Silverdale. The public is invited.

Gilmore, 60, filed as a candidate for Kitsap County auditor on Feb. 3.

Currently the elections manager for Kitsap County, she is running for the position now held by fellow Democrat Walt Washington.

Washington is retiring at the end of the year and has endorsed Gilmore.

“I step away from office with 100 percent confidence that Dolores, as my successor, is the best fit for Kitsap County,” Washington said. “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.”

Gilmore, who lives in Port Orchard, is the only candidate so far in the race.

She has 30 years of experience working for Kitsap County and has held several management positions in the Auditor’s Office. She has been a certified elections administrator since 2005, and has administered more than 80 elections and 21 successful recounts during her tenure with Kitsap County.

Gilmore said she is committed to ensuring 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.