Order filed to take Ecret off ballot

MOSES LAKE — Court documents were filed this week to have former Moses Lake city council member Bill Ecret’s name removed from the November general election ballot and to open a special three-day filing period.

Ecret previously submitted a letter detailing his resignation from the city council because he had moved outside of city limits. Ecret was serving in Position No. 1 on the city council and his term was set to expire on Dec. 31. Despite serving in Position No. 1, Ecret filed to run for Position No. 4, which is a position currently held by Mayor Todd Voth, in the August primary. Voth had initially filed run for Position No. 4, but later withdrew and filed to run against candidates Mike Riggs and Dean Hankins for Position No. 1.

The Moses Lake City Council voted to accept resumes and letters of interest from city residents who wish to fill Position No. 1, with the city accepting letters of interest until 5 p.m. today.

Ecret’s move out of the city disqualified him from holding public office in Moses Lake. Documents filed jointly by city council member Ryann Leonard and the City of Moses Lake versus Grant County Auditor Michele Jaderlund indicate Jaderlund is requiring a court order to declare Ecret disqualified, “even though Bill Ecret himself is not contesting his disqualification under the residency requirements.”

Because state law dictates the reopening of the position for filing must be triggered the day before the Aug. 1 primary, the petitioners requested a Writ of Mandamus. A writ is an order issued from a court to a lesser government official to carry out an act that is required by law, to require Jaderlund to remove Ecret as a general election candidate and in turn open a special three-day filing period for Position No. 4.

The Revised Code of Washington states that because there weren’t more than two candidates to file for Position No. 4, a primary cannot be held for the position and it would only appear on the general election ballot.

“If Bill Ecret is not formally disqualified by the court before the Aug. 1, 2017 deadline, the position would be filled by appointment by the Moses Lake City Council. However, it is the desire of that body to ensure the fair and open elections of its council members by the citizens of Moses Lake,” reads the petition.

A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday before Grant County Superior Court Judge David Estudillo.