Political picture develops in Grant County
Aspiring candidates have until Friday to file
GRANT COUNTY — A party switch and at least three contested county races materialized Monday, following the first day many Grant County candidates could make their races official.
In a surprise move, incumbent Democratic County Clerk Kenneth Kunes filed for re-election as a Republican. Kunes will take on Republican challenger Kimberly Allen of Ephrata in September's primary election, who also filed Monday. Kunes was unavailable for comment on the party switch.
Candidate filing began Monday, and continues through 5 p.m. Friday at the Grant County Courthouse for posts in the courthouse and at the Grant County Public Utility District. Aspiring candidates also have until Friday to run for both house of representative and senate posts with the Washington State Legislature.
Just one other race is contested in Grant County thus far. Incumbent Democratic County Auditor Bill Varney filed for re-election Monday, and will take on Republican Dan Stout in November. The Democrats had previously announced county elections manager Faith Anderson to run for the auditor slot to succeed Varney, but she said Monday she will not be running.
At the Grant County Public Utility District, two people have filed for the Commission B at-large spot currently held by incumbent Bill Bjork. Both Moses Lake farmer Dale Walker and Moses Lake Planning Commission Chairman Bob Bernd have officially entered the race. Bjork has previously told the Herald he will run for re-election. If all three file for the post, the race will go before the voters in a September primary, with the top two vote-getters facing off in the general election.
Political newcomer and Grant County Economic Development Council Executive Director Terry Brewer has so far been the sole candidate to file for the Commission District No. 1 post currently held by Vera Claussen. Brewer will likely face a challenge from W. Ron Baker of Moses Lake, who has also announced his intentions to run for the post.
Republican Eric Briggs of Ephrata has so far been the sole candidate to file for the Grant County Commissioner District No. 3 seat currently held by Republican Deborah Moore, who said she will not seek re-election.
In the 13th state Legislative District which covers portions of Grant, Yakima and Kittitas counties, Democrat Lisa Bowen filed Monday for the senate seat, and Max Golladay has filed for one of the open house seats up for election in November. Current Republican state Rep. Janea Holmquist has also announced her intentions to run for the 13th District Senate post being vacated by Moses Lake Republican Sen. Joyce Mulliken.
Golladay received support from 13th Disrict Republicans over the weekend for the Position No. 1 seat Holmquist is leaving in her run for the state senate. Republican Judy Warnick of Moses Lake has also announced her intention to run for the post. Republican Bill Hinkle of Cle Elum has announced his intentions to run or re-election in the district's House of Representative Position No. 2 seat.
Incumbent Republicans Assessor Laure Grammer, Coroner Jerry Jasman and Sheriff Frank DeTrolio and incumbent Democrat Treasurer Darryl Pheasant all filed for re-election Monday. Janis Whitener-Moberg has also filed for re-election to the nonpartisan District Court Judge Position No. 2 post. All are unopposed as of yet.
As of Monday, no one had filed for the District Court Judge Position No. 1 slot currently held by Richard Fitterer or the Grant County Prosecutor spot currently held by John Knodell.