Races shape up for 2020 election year

DAYTON–Candidates filing for public office last week formed up a few contests that voters will decide in the 2020 elections.

Three candidates are vying for the Superior Court Judge Position 1 spot, as are a trio of candidates for the 16th District Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Maureen Walsh (R-College Place). These races will narrow the field to two candidates in the August 4, 2020 Primary Election.

Columbia County Commissioner Mike Talbott will have an opponent in this year’s election as Tucannon area agricultural producer Marty Hall has filed to run for the office. Both Talbott and Hall prefer the Republican Party.

Seeking the nonpartisan Snake River Circuit judge position, which covers Superior Courts in Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, are G. Scott Marinella of Dayton, Brooke J. Burns of Clarkston and R. Victor Bottomly, also of Clarkston. The top two vote getters will advance to the General Election following the August 4 Primary Election.

Filing to run for Walsh’s 16th District Senate position are Perry Dozier of Waitsburg, Danielle Garbe Reser of Walla Walla, and 16th District Representative William “Bill” Jenkin of Prosser. Dozier and Jenkin favor the Republican Party and Garbe Reser favors the Democratic Party.

Both 16th District House of Representative seats will have two candidates vying for office. Representative Position 1, vacated by Rep. Jenkin as he seeks the Senate post, has Frances Chvatal (prefers Democratic Party) of Walla Walla, and Mark Klicker (prefers Republican Party) of Walla Walla, filing for the position.

State Representative Position 2, held by Rep. Skyler Rude, (R-16-Walla Walla), will be opposed in his run for a second two-year term by Carly Coburn (prefers Democratic Party) of Pasco.

Columbia County Commissioner Ryan Rundell (R) will be unopposed in his run for re-election to Commissioner Position No. 1.

U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5) has filed for re-election and will have four challengers to be decided by voters in the Primary Election. Two Democrats, Chris Armitage and Dave Wilson, have filed, two Republicans, Stephen T. Major and Rob Chase, and one independent, Brendan O’Regan, will be on the Primary Election ballot.

State Supreme Court candidates in races are Position #06 Richard S. Serns and G. Helen Whitener; and Position #03, David Larson and Raquel Montoya-Lewis. Unopposed will be Position #07 Debra L. Stephens and Position #04 Charles W. Johnson.

Precinct Committee Officers on the ballot will be decided in the Primary:

Brooklyn: Republican-Tom E. Bensel

Dayton: Republican-Dwight Richter

Mustard: Republican-JoAnn Grendahl

Ping: Republican-James Timothy Quade and Eric Thorn

Star: Republican-Dwight L. Robanske

Starbuck City: Republican-Don Jackson

Tucannon: Republican-Fred White.