Midterm elections rarely draw the big-time voter turnout typical of a presidential election year.

But with three contested county office races, including sheriff, and no fewer than six local property tax or bond measures on the Nov. 4 election ballot, San Juan County voters have plenty to pay attention to in the run-up to the 2014 general election.

“That’s an unusual number,” Auditor Milene Henley said of the property tax measures. “No one would be affected by all six, of course; the most would be three (Friday Harbor). But at least one or two would apply to everyone. I’d say that’s probably the most interesting thing about the ballot.”

But certainly not the only thing.

In fact, rules governing firearms, purchase or possession of, could become more onerous or less restrictive depending on the outcome of statewide Initiative 591 and Initiative 594. And, the Legislature would be required to allocate enough funding to reduce class size and increase staff support for all K-12 schools – more for high-poverty area schools – should Initiative 1351 pass.

In the federal arena, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, must fend off a challenge from Republican opponent B.J. Guillot to secure an eighth consecutive two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Closer to home, incumbent stateRep. Kristine Lytton, D-Anacortes, is vying against San Juan Island’s own Daniel Miller, Jr., Republican Party challenger,in the 40th District legislative race.

The outcome of the November election will also determine who will manage three county offices for the next four years. The treasurer’s race pits two candidates making a first-ever bid for public office, Tony Fyrqvist and Rhonda Pederson, while two-term incumbent Joan White faces political newcomer Nancy Vejvoda in the non-partisan contest for clerk of the court (the position oversees business affairs of superior and juvenile courts).

In arguably the highest profile of the local races, first-term incumbent Rob Nou takes on Deputy Ron Krebs in the race for San Juan County Sheriff. Nou garnered 66 percent of ballots cast in 2010 to earn a four-year term in the top tier of local law enforcement. A repeated landslide appears unlikely this year, however, as the San Juan County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, which represents the department’s sworn officers and dispatch staff, 28 in all, up-ended the status quo last week by throwing its support behind Krebs’ candidacy, endorsing the eight-year department veteran and first-time sheriff candidate.

Since pocketbook issues tend to draw voters and with a half-dozen local property tax or bond measures on the ballot, turnout for the Nov. 4 could be big, midterm or not.

All voters in all precincts will have opportunity to weigh in on San Juan County Proposition 1, which would replace and continue for another six years a property tax increase approved by voters in 2009. That measure came with a “sunset clause” built in. The ‘09 increase expires in 2015 unless renewed byvoters.

At 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, Prop. 1 would generate roughly $1.1 million beginning in 2015 and is earmarked for 10 functions within the county fold, including parks, public health, senior services and maintenance of Islands’ Oil Spill Association equipment.

“Assessed values have gone down since 2009,” Henley said. “The 18 cents is merely replacing what was there before at the same level. It’s not a new tax.”

In addition to county Prop. 1 and a school bond measure, Lopez voters will also weigh in on a new tax, a one-year “excess levy” that would generate $115,000 for the Lopez Solid Waste District. Voters on Orcas will cast votes for county Prop. 1 and a school property measure, for technology and facility upgrades as well.

On San Juan, voters will weigh in on Prop. 1 and an extension and increase in the public hospital district’s property tax.