Miller to take over brother's seat on Adams Co. bench

RITZVILLE - Adams County has a new Superior Court Judge: Ritzville's Brian H. Miller.

"Obviously I'm pleased with the results," he said. "I appreciate the confidence that the voters in Adams County have shown by electing me to this very important position."

Miller handily defeated current Adams County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt by 10 percent in Tuesday's primary - which allow final judgement on two-race judicial votes in less populated counties.

"I don't have any regrets whatsoever about the race. I think it was a good campaign," Flyckt said. "Whether the results are in my favor or not, I thought it was important that voters have a choice."

Flyckt remains prosecutor until 2015, and wishes Miller the best of congratulations.

"When you have an election, that gives a choice to the voters," Flyckt said afterward. "Once the voters have spoken, then you respect the results and move on."

Miller said he appreciated the hard work and support of his election committee, and he looks forward to continuing his family's tradition of being involved in the county's legal community.

His brother, Richard M. Miller, is the current - and retiring - Superior Court judge in Adams County.

Brian Miller has been in private practice for decades, prosecuting numerous felony criminal cases in Adams County, and several civil trial cases, many of which regarded crops.

He has also been a deputy prosecuting attorney in Adams County for 13 years, and the City of Othello's attorney for 11.

His family has practiced law for 103 years in Adams County.

"I feel very proud of the fact that I'm able to continue that tradition, but now in a new light," Miller said.

Also in Adams County, the field for the county's first commissioner district's race was weened down to two.

Donald E. Gentry, of Othello, will not advance to feature on the November ballot.

He garnered roughly 11 percent of the vote, about 20 percentage points behind fellow challenger John N. Marshall, of Ritzville.

Marshall will appear on the general ballot alongside incumbent Rudy Plager, also of Ritzville, and the current chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners.

"I am honored to continue to have the support from the voters," Plager said. "We've had to make some awfully difficult budget decisions, and it appears that most of the voters seem to understand that."

Plager walked away with nearly 60 percent of the primary vote.

Neither Gentry nor Marshall were available for comment.

As expected, state legislators from the ninth district, which includes Adams County, walked away with easy wins.

State Sen. Mark G. Schoesler, R-Ritzville; and state Reps. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, and Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, all ran unopposed and will appear on the general ballot.

No races in Grant County were thinned down by the primary vote.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings took the majority of votes, with Mary Baechler also advancing to November's vote.

"The voters really want the parties to come across the aisles and just work for the country," Baechler said. "A big reason for me running was social security and Medicare."

Election results are not final until Secretary of State Sam Reed certifies the results. He has until Aug. 21 to do so.