Reform minded Port Commissioner Alec Fisken is already in for a tough reelection. No, he’s not involved in the recent scandal (except that he expressed shock and dismay at the Pat Davis/Mic Dinsmore retirement makeout party), but just like poor Margaret Pageler in strippergate, it’s likely antsy voters will just throw him out too.

Fisken is being challenged by status quo candidate Bill Bryant—who, as ECB first reported, has a history of donating to Republicans.

Well, more bad news for Fisken: A third “candidate” has entered the race, Steve Symms. Now, Symms—the manager of the Seattle office of NYK, a Japanese shipping company—hardly seems like a bona fide candidate. In fact, he hasn’t even registered at the PDC.

Fisken’s theory is that Bryant supporters asked the shipping company exec to put his hat in the ring in order to crowd the field to force a primary—which will make Fisken’s race more difficult.

I called NYK, but the machine that answered said I should disconnect now.

UPDATE: Even weirder. The Steve Symms who’s listed as filing isn’t the Steve Symms at NYK, it’s his uncle, who has the exact. same. name. I interviewed him and he laughed at Fisken’s contention that he’s a red herring candidate. Although he did say he “wouldn’t call it [his campaign] serious because he’s not going to raise the money it takes.” Symms, who’s retired with a part time gig doing security for the fed courts, says his issue is making the port more secure from terrorism.