3-day filing period for ML Council Position No. 4

EPHRATA — A special 3-day filing period for Position No. 4 on the Moses Lake City Council will give residents who are interested in serving their community one more shot at having their name on the ballot.

Grant County Auditor Michele Jaderlund announced the special 3-day filing period will be held from 8 a.m. Aug. 1 until 5 p.m. Aug. 3. People who are interested in filing are required to do so in person at the Grant County Courthouse, 35 C St. NW. Applicants will see their names appear on the November general election ballot.

Jaderlund’s announcement comes after a judge approved a petition to disqualify former Moses Lake city councilmember Bill Ecret’s name from appearing on the general election ballot. Ecret was running unopposed for Position No. 4, a position currently held by Mayor Todd Voth, despite serving in Position No. 1 when he filed to run. Voth initially filed to run for Position No. 4, but later withdrew and filed to run for Position No. 1.

Following a move outside of city limits, Ecret resigned from Position No. 1 July 3. The council previously agreed to solicit resumes and letters of interest from city residents who wished to fill Position No. 1 for the remainder of Ecret's term, Dec. 31. Despite receiving interest from four residents, the council reversed its decision during Tuesday night's council meeting and in a 4-2 decision voted to keep the seat vacant.