Ballots to be mailed this week

OLYMPIA – Ballots for statewide primary elections are scheduled to go in the mail July 17.

Thirty-six candidates are running for governor, a record for a statewide race according to the office of the Secretary of State. The previous record for candidates in a Washington governor’s race is 15, set in 1924 and repeated in 1996.

Candidates pay a filing fee equal to 1% of the job’s yearly salary; in the case of the governor’s office, that would be $187,353 as of July 1, or 1% of $187,353.

According to Washington state law, a candidate who claims to be unable to afford the filing fee can, instead, submit a petition with signatures of registered voters. The number of voters needed to skirt the filing fee depends on the position, with one name required for every dollar of the job’s salary. This year, however, COVID-19 restrictions allowed for a temporary suspension of that requirement, and nine candidates for the governor’s office claimed an inability to pay the filing fee.

Other offices up for election are U.S. representatives, Lt. governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, and commissioner of public lands.

Voters in Adams County will have the opportunity to select from 117 candidates running for 35 offices.

Positions on the ballot are drawn by lot, and voters will see candidates presented in the following order:

Running for U.S. Representative in Congressional District 4 are Ryan Cooper (Libertarian), Tracy “Justice” Wright (Republican), Douglas E. McKinley (Democratic), Evan Jones (Independent), Sarena Sloot (Republican), and Incumbent Dan Newhouse (Republican).

Vying for your vote as governor are Alex Tsimerman (StandUpAmerica), Phil Fortunato (Republican), Ryan Ryals (Unaffiliated), Leon Aaron Lawson (Trump Republican), Henry Clay Dennison (Socialist Workers), Tim Eyman (Republican), Liz Hallock (Green), Goodspaceguy (Trump Republican), Omari Tahir Garrett (Democrat), Don L. Rivers (Democratic), Martin L. ‘Iceman’ Wheeler (Republican), Raul Garcia ( Republican), Tylor Grow (Republican), Winston Wilkes (Propertarianist), Brian R. Weed (States No Party Preference), Thor Admundson (Independent), Gene Hart (Democratic), William (Bill) Miller (American Patriot), Dylan B. Nails (Independent), Cameron M. Vessey (States No Party Preference), David W. Blomstrom (Fifth Republic), Anton Sakharov (Trump Republican), Craig Campbell (States No Party Preference), Nate Herzog (Pre2016 Republican), Cregan M. Newhouse (States No Party Preference), Ian Gonzales (Republican), Cairo D’Almeida (Democratic), Elaina J. Gonzalez (Independent), Incumbent Jay Inslee (Democratic), Joshua Freed (Republican), David Voltz (Cascadia Labour), Joshua Wolf (New-Liberty), Loren Culp (Republican), Richard L. Carpenter (Republican), and Bill Hirt (Republican).

Running for Lt. Governor are Josheph Brumbles (Republican), Jared Frerichs (Libertarian), Ann Davison Sattler (Republican), James R. Rafferty (Democratic), Marko Liias (Democratic), Matt Seymour (Libertarian), Michelle Jasmer (Democratic), Bill Penor (Republican), Richard (Dick) Muri (Republican), Denny Heck (Democratic), and Marty McClendon (Republican). Incumbent Cyrus Habib is not running for re-election.

Running for Secretary of State are Ed Minger (Independent), Gentry Lange (Progressive), Incumbent Kim Wyman (Republican), and Gael Tarleton (Democratic).

Incumbent Duane A. Davidson (Republican) and Mike Pellicciotti (Democratic) have filed for State Treasurer.

Running for State Auditor are Joshua Casey (Democratic), Chris Leyba (Republican) and Incumbent Pat (Patrice) McCarthy (Democratic).

The position of Attorney General is being sought by Matt Larkin (Republican), Mike Vaska (GOP), Brett Rogers (Republican) and Incumbent Bob Ferguson (Democratic).

Running for Commissioner of Public Lands are Cameron Whitney (Republican), Steve Sharon (Republican), Incumbent Hilary Franz (Democratic), Kelsey Reyes (Libertarian), Maryam Abasbarzy (Republican), Sue Kuehl Pederson (Republican), and Frank Wallbrown (Democratic).

Running for Superintendent of Public Instruction are Ron Higgins, Maia Espinoza, Stan Lippmann, David Spring, Dennis Wick, and Incumbent Chris Reykdal.

Running for Insurance Commissioner are Anthony Welti (Libertarian), Chirayu Avinash Patel (Republican), and Mike Kreidler (Democratic).

In Legislative District 9, running for State Senator are Jenn Goulet (Democratic) and Incumbent Mark G. Schoesler (GOP).

Also in Legislative District 9, running for State Representative Pos. 1, are Brett Borden (Libertarian) and Mary Dye (Republican).

Joe Schmick (GOP) is running unopposed in Legislative District 9 for State Representative Pos. 2.

The County Commissioner District 1 position is being sought by Incumbent John N. Marshall (Republican), Dan Blankenship (Republican) and Glen R. Stockwell (Trump Republican).

Jay R. Weise and Ken Johnson, both Republicans, are contesting for the County Commissioner District 2 position.

For the Supreme Court, Justice Position No. 3 is being sought by Dave Larson and Racquel Montoya-Lewis. Charles W. Johnson is running unopposed for Position No. 4. Richard S. Serns and G. Helen Whitener are seeking Justice Position No. 6. Debra L. Stephens is unopposed for Position No. 7.

Incumbent Steve Dixon is running unopposed for Adams County Superior Court Judge Position 1.

Sixteen candidates have filed for Precinct Committee Officer postions, most of them unopposed. All but two of them are Republicans.

In the Ritzville Rural SE District, candidates Phillip Peterson and John E. Faure are vying for the seat. In Othello City No. 5 District, Kenneth E. Caylor (Democratic) and Terry Thompsen (Republican) are contesting for the position. James Carlton is the only other Democratic candidate, running unopposed for the Othello City No. 2 position.

Ballots are due back August 4.

With the Adams County Courthouse still closed to the public, there won’t be a ballot drop box in the auditor’s office. Secure, 24-hour ballot drop boxes can be found in Adams County at the following locations:

Adams County Public Services Building, 425 E. Main Street, Othello; Ritzville City Hall, 216 E. Main Avenue; Town of Lind, 116 ½ West Second Street; and Town of Washtucna City Hall, 165 South Main Street.

Ballots can also be returned through the U.S. Postal Service. Postage is pre-paid on ballot return envelopes, which must be postmarked no later than 5 p.m. August 4.

“Don’t wait until election day to mail your ballot, as you risk not having it postmarked in time,” Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt said, adding Othello Post Office collects their mail at 1 p.m. “Don’t risk it. You don’t have to mail it the day you get it, but do not push that deadline.”