Primary ballots due today

EPHRATA/RITZVILLE — Voters will narrow the field for a number of state offices in the primary election, but most local offices only have one or two candidates. Ballots must be returned today by 8 p.m. or postmarked with today’s date. 

Turnout in Grant and Adams counties was light as of Monday. Kaylyn Orozco, certified elections deputy for Grant County, said 7,010 had been returned, out of about 49,000 mailed. In Adams County about 1,160 had been returned out of about 8,120 mailed to voters, according to the Washington Secretary of State website. 

“But usually we have a large number that are returned to the ballot box on Election Day,” said Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt. 

Two county commission races are on the ballot in Grant and Adams counties. Primary races only appear on the primary ballot in the commission district.  

The race for Grant County Commission, District One, has three candidates on the ballot, but one, Dave Bren, withdrew after the deadline. Bren said in an earlier interview that family considerations made it impossible for him to run.  

Kevin Burgess, Moses Lake, and Amador Castro, Moses Lake, will be on the ballot for District One, and both will advance to the general election. Incumbent Rob Jones, Moses Lake, will be challenged for the seat in District Two by David Henderson, Moses Lake. Both will advance to the general election. 

Both incumbent Adams County Commissioners face challengers. Incumbent Dan Blankenship, Ritzville, will be challenged by David Lobe, Ritzville for the seat in District One. Jay Weise, Othello, the incumbent in District Two, is running against challenger Hank Rivard, Othello.  

Three levy measures will be on the ballot in Grant County and four in Adams County. 

Voters in Grant County Fire District 3 will decide the fate of a six-year emergency medical services levy. If it’s approved, voters will pay 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same as the current levy.  

Grant County Fire District 12, Wilson Creek, is asking for the assessment rate of its levy to be raised to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, called a levy lid lift. The levy would be in effect for six years. 

The 2012 levy established the levy rate at about 94 cents per $1,00 of assessed property value. But tax increases are limited by state law, and over time the rate had dropped to 63 cents per thousand. 

The money would be used for site purchase and design of a new fire station, according to a GCFD 12 statement.  

Grant County Fire District 13, the rural Ephrata area, is asking district patrons for an increase to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value; the current levy rate is about 73 cents per thousand. The levy would run for six years. The increase would return the GCFD 13 levy to the 2016 rate.  

Four one-year levies are on the Adams County ballot. 

Parks and Recreation District 4, Ritzville, is asking for a $160,000 maintenance and operations levy for the Ritzville Water Park. If it’s approved, property owners would pay about 32 cents per thousand. 

Parks and Recreation District 3 also is asking for an M&O levy, in their case for $80,000 to operate the Lind swimming pool. Property owners would pay 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value if the levy is approved.

Cemetery District 1, Washtucna, will have a one-year, $10,500 M&O levy request on the primary ballot.

District property owners would pay an estimated 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value if the request is approved. 

Voters in Cemetery District 2, Othello, also will decide the fate of a one-year M&O levy, this one for $20,000. Voters would pay two cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.