Goehner, Diamond, Steele, Starratt top 12th District primaries

EPHRATA — Chelan County Commissioner Keith Goehner, Dryden, will face retired physician Ann Diamond, Mazama, for the open Washington House of Representatives seat in the 12th District. In the race for the district’s second House seat, incumbent Mike Steele, Chelan, will face Valerie Sarratt of Twisp.

Goehner and Diamond were the top finishers in a four-way race to fill the seat vacated by longtime representative Cary Condotta in the primary election Tuesday. Steele and Sarratt were the top two in a three-way primary race.

In unofficial results from the Washington Secretary of State, Goehner received 7,718 votes to 5,035 votes for Diamond. Okanogan resident C. Keiki Stacey Weigle and J.D. Greening, Waterville, were knocked out of the race.

Washington’s primary doesn’t require that candidates declare a party affiliation, although they can. Goehner is a Republican; Diamond is an independent.

Steele received 10,146 votes to 5,546 votes for Starratt in unofficial results. Alan Fahnestock, Twisp, finished third.

Steele is a Republican and is running for his second term; Starratt declared as a Democrat.

The 12th District includes all of Chelan and Douglas counties and portions of Okanogan and Grant counties.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.