Primary may decide Adams Co. judge

MOSES LAKE - While Washington's top-two primary creates less confusion as to who advances to the general ballot in partisan races, there are many different rules for non-partisan and judicial races.

For example, the two men running for Grant County PUD commissioners - a non-partisan position - will not appear on the primary ballot because each of their races are uncontested.

Incumbents Tom Flint, of Ephrata, and Terry Brewer, of Soap Lake, will both appear on the general ballot in November.

Had either received a challenger, their race would have appeared on both ballots.

Judicial races are a different matter.

Superior Court races with two or more candidates - like Adams County this election cycle - will effectively be decided during the primaries.

If either Brian H. Miller or Randy J. Flyckt, both of Ritzville, receive the majority of the vote during the primary, he will have earned the judgeship.

At that point there would be no need to see the top vote getter on the general ballot, so he would not appear.

But if the second-most vote getter files a petition within 10 days after the primary, he may appear as a write-in candidate come November.

In the unlikely event that neither candidate receives the majority of votes, both Miller and Flyckt would advance to the general.

Superior Court races with one candidate will appear on both the primary and general ballots.

This is the case for Grant County's candidates: Even E. Sperline, of Soap Lake; John Knodell, of Quincy; and John Antosz, of Ephrata.

Washington State Supreme Court races are fairly similar, but with one twist.

In races with two or more candidates, if one garners the majority vote, he or she would be the sole candidate on the general ballot as opposed to being elected directly to the post.

If there's a plurality of votes with not one candidate achieving more than the 50 percent mark, the top two vote getters would advance to the general.

Votes in the state have three seats to fill on the Washington Supreme Court this election, each with two or more candidates.

Incumbent Susan Owens, Olympia, is challenged by Douglas W. McQuaid and Scott Stafne, both of Seattle, for the high court's second position.

Currently seated Justice Steve Gonzalez, of Seattle, is running against Bruce O. Danielson, of Port Orchard, for the court's eighth position.

Position No. 9 has four newcomers vying for the seat: Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Bruce Hilyer and John W. Ladenburg, all of Seattle; and Richard B. Sanders, of Olympia.