Fire district proposals, commission races to be decided in Grant Co.

EPHRATA — Grant County voters will receive ballots this week for the primary election Aug. 5. Two county commission seats, two requests for increased fire district levies (called a levy lid lift) and one fire district EMS levy will be on the ballot in addition to federal and state offices.

Each commission candidate represents a specific district, and commission races are on the ballot only in the commission district. However, two candidates are running in both races, so both will advance to the Nov. 5 general election

Three candidates appear on the ballot in District 1, but one of them suspended his campaign last week. David Bren said family issues made it impossible for him to run. The remaining two candidates are Kevin Burgess, Moses Lake, and Amador Castro, Moses Lake. Incumbent Danny Stone did not file for reelection.

District 2 incumbent Rob Jones, Moses Lake, will be challenged by David Henderson, Moses Lake.

Two fire districts are asking for increases to the amount of property taxes they can levy, called a levy lid lift. 

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

The 2012 levy approved by voters established the levy rate at about 94 cents per $1,000 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 to pay for site purchase and design of a new fire station, according to a statement from GCFD 12. 

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

An EMS levy is on the primary ballot for Grant County Fire District 3 voters. The six-year levy would replace one approved by the voters in 2018, and the levy rate would be 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same as the current levy. The money is used to provide EMS services. 

Grant County is in the Fourth District of the U.S. House of Representatives, and incumbent Dan Newhouse has drawn seven challengers. Ten people are challenging incumbent Maria Cantwell for her seat in the U.S. Senate. 

In Washington legislative races, all House seats will be on the ballot. Most of Grant County is in the 13th District; representatives Tom Dent, Moses Lake, and Alex Ybarra, Quincy, will run unopposed.

A small slice of the county was moved to the 16th Legislative District as a result of a lawsuit that challenged the state’s redistricting process. Both 16th District Representative seats and the Senate seat will be up for election, and the Republican incumbents in all three seats drew challengers. Incumbent Mark Klicker will be challenged by Linda Gunshefski for Position 1, and Skyler Rude will be challenged by Craig Woodard for Position 2. Incumbent Senator Perry Dozier will be challenged by Kari Isaacson.

The race for Washington Governor also is on the ballot; voters will choose from among 28 candidates. Other state offices on the ballot include Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, and Commissioner of Public Lands. One Washington Supreme Court seat is on the ballot. 

Voters can mail in ballots, or drop them off in one of 14 ballot boxes around Grant County. Krupp has one, at 297 N. Urquhart Ave.; Wilson Creek’s is at 124 Railroad St. There are boxes at the Electric City City Hall, 11 Western Ave., 232 Chelan St. in Hartline and 501 W. Main St. in Coulee City. In Warden, it’s at the Warden Community Center, 115 N. Oak St., and in Grand Coulee it’s located at 555 Grand Coulee Ave. 

The Soap Lake drop box is across the street from Soap Lake City Hall, 239 SE Second Ave., and in George it’s at the city hall, 102 Richmond Ave. In Mattawa, it’s at the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic, 210 Government Road; Quincy’s is at the Quincy Public Library, 208 S. Central Ave. The Royal City ballot box is at 101 NE Camelia St., next to the city park. 

The Moses Lake drop box is behind Moses Lake City Hall, 321 S. Balsam St. In Ephrata, it’s in the parking lot of the Grant County Courthouse, 35 C St. NW.

Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. 

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

Grant County Ballot Box locations

Grand Coulee
555 Grand Coulee Ave.

Moses Lake
321 S. Balsam St.

Royal City
101 NE Camelia St. 

Quincy
208 S. Central Ave.

Ephrata
35 C St. SW, parking lot A

Mattawa
210 Government Road

George
102 Richmond Ave.

Soap Lake
239 SE Second Ave.

Warden
115 N. Oak St.

Coulee City
501 W. Main St.

Hartline
232 Chelan St.

Electric City
11 Western Ave.

Wilson Creek
124 Railroad St.

Krupp
297 N. Urquhart Ave.