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Depending on where you live, there’s not much to get excited about for this primary election.
Sure, everyone in Spokane County will get the chance to vote on Proposition 1, the renewal of the criminal justice and public safety sales tax. A yes vote means that one-tenth of 1 percent of every purchase will be collected for law-enforcement or for court services. In Spokane Valley, $750,000 is collected annually and is used for the public-safety contract with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
After that, it all depends on geography. Voters will be asked, in select areas, to vote for their choice in various city council and school board races where there are more than two candidates. The top-two vote-getters will then move on to the general election. The rest will have to clean up their signs.
Those living in the East Valley School District, for example, have their pick of four candidates for Director 3: Bill Powers, Kay Sieck, Guy Gifford and Heidi Gillingham.
After that, it gets a bit sketchy. Those living on the extreme western end of Spokane Valley, in the Edgecliff area, will vote for Heidi Olson, Jeff Bierman or Deana Brower for school board post 3 in the Spokane School District. There’s also the choice for Rocky Treppiedi, Laura Carder or Austin DePaolo for Position 4.
In Fairfield, south of Spokane Valley, there are three running for mayor: Michael VanSlyke, Edward Huber and Ron Rogers. There’s also a trio of council candidates to choose from in Position 4: Valerie Spurrell, Kevin Fields and KayDee Gilkey.
In Rockford, a City Council candidate will fall from the Larry Van Every, Howard Brutschy and Stan Seehorn triage for Position 1.
For those wishing to save the cost of a stamp in the mail-in election, ballots may be dropped off at any local public library, the downtown Spokane Transit Plaza or at the Spokane County Auditor’s Office at the courthouse. They may also be deposited at the elections office at 1033 W. Gardner. No ballots will be accepted after 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
On Aug. 18, there will also be a voter service center set up at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Ballots may also be dropped off there -- on that date only – between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Also, the city of Spokane Valley will be holding a special, three-day filing period beginning Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, for the Position 2 unexpired term of Steve Taylor on the City Council. While Ian Robertson was appointed by the council to fill the spot last week, he will have to file for the office and fend off any challengers in the November general election.
Potential candidates for the office must be residents of the city of Spokane Valley, complete a declaration of candidacy in person at the elections office, 1033 W. Gardner, and pay a $90 filing fee.
For more information, call 477-2320.
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By
Mike Huffman
