Ballots to be mailed this week

RITZVILLE – Registered Adams County voters should begin receiving their ballots for the Aug. 2 primary election later this week.

According to Auditor Heidi Hunt, ballots are scheduled to be in the mail by Friday, July 15.

County voter pamphlets – written in English and Spanish -- containing information on ballot measures and candidates (in statewide and local races) were already mailed to every home in the county.

In contested races for office, the Top 2 candidates will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Contested races include Adams County Sheriff, Adams County Commissioner District No. 3, Secretary of State, U.S. House District Nos. 4 and 5 and U.S. Senate.

The only ballot measure before some voters is Proposition No. 1, the maintenance and operations levy for Adams County Park and Recreation District No. 4.

The measure asks voter to approve a 32 cents per $1,000 property valuation levy to fund Ritzville Water Park.

If approved, the measure will collect an estimated 4150,000 in taxes to pay for the water park in 2023.

There are two contested local races.

In the race for county sheriff, Matthew Carlson is challenging incumbent Dale J. Wagner. Both prefer the Republican Party.

Terry Thompson and Miguel “Mike” A. Garza are squaring off for the District No. 3 seat on the Adams County Commission.

The races for U.S. House and Senate are also contested.

Fourth Congressional District incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse is facing multiple challengers following his Jan. 13 vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump. He is one of only 10 Republicans to support the impeachment pushed by Democrats.

As a result, he is not being endorsed by most county Republican committees in the 4th District, although he continues to run as a Republican.

Challengers include Corey Gibson legislative Rep. Brad Klippert of Kennewick, former gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp of Republic, Benancio “Benny” Garcia III and former NASCAR racer Jerrod Sessler. The only Democrat in the field is Doug White.

In the 5th Congressional District race, incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers is being challenged by Republican Sean Clynch and Democrats Natasha Hill and Ann Marie Danimus.

Seventeen people are challenging incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, a Western Washington Democrat.

She faces Henry Clay Dennison, Mohammad Hassan Said, John Guenther, Dan Phan Doan, Pano Churchill, Dave Saulibio, Sam Cusmir, Bill Hirt, John Butler, Bryan Solstin, Martin D. Hash, Thor Amundson, Charlie “Chuck” Jackson, Naz Paul, Ravin Pierre, Leon Lawson and Franklin County farmer Patty Smiley.

Eight candidates are vying to be the Secretary of State for Washington. They include Bob Hagglund, Kurtis Engle, Marquez Tiggs, Tamborine Borrelli, Steve Hobbs, Keith L. Wagoner, Mark Miloscia and Julie Anderson.

Hobbs was appointed to the post by Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this year and Miloscia is the former director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington.

To be counted, ballots must be postmarked or returned by Aug. 2.

Drop boxes are located at:

· Lind – Town Hall, 116.5 W. Second St.

· Othello – Adams County Public Services Building, 425 W. Main Ave.

· Ritzville – Auditor’s Office, 210 W. Broadway Ave., City Hall, 216 W. Main Ave.

· Washtucna – Town Hall, 165 S. Main St.