Race for superior court judge highlights early candidate filings

The filing period for those individuals interested in running for a public office has now officially opened as of Monday. The filing period ends on Friday, May 18, at 4 p.m. and forms can be submitted online or at the local auditor’s office.

Filing Week used to be in early June, but a state law passed last year moved the week to mid-May in order to help accommodate overseas and military voting.

Early in the filing process, the most interesting local race appears to be for the position of Superior Court Judge Position No. 1, which is currently held by Richard Miller.

Miller has not filed for re-election. Instead, his brother, Brian Miller, an Adams County registered voter and Othello property owner has filed for the position.

According to the Adams County Assesor’s online tax records, he currently lists his mailing address as being in Kennewick. His candidate filing indicates he resides at 607 S. Adams Street in Ritzville. Also filing to run for the superior court judge position is current Adams County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt.

The federal and state offices this year include all seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate seat, auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, governor, lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and treasurer.

Due to redistricting, all of Adams County is now entirely part of Congressional District 4. The change has expanded the Commissioner District No. 1 and the Commissioner District No. 2 slightly, most of the changes being in the panhandle of the county.

There are 21 offices open for election for Adams County residents, but the majority are statewide elections. The Adams County offices up for election this year include Legislative District 9 offices, Adams County Commissioner offices, Precinct Committee officer positions, and Adams County Superior Court judge position.

In Congressional District No. 4, which now envelops Adams County, the U.S. Representative position is open for filings. Doc Hastings, who has filed for reelection for the two-year term, currently holds the position.

The Legislative District 9 offices are State Senator, a four-year term that is currently held by Mark Schoesler; State Representative Position No. 1, a two-year term currently held by Susan Fagan; and State Representative Position No. 2, a two-year term held by Joe Schmick. As of Wednesday morning, Schoesler, Fagan and Schmick have filed for reelection and are running unopposed.

County Commissioner District No. 1, currently held by Rudy Plager, and County Commissioner District No. 2, position now held by Roger Hartwig, are both four-year terms that are open for filings. Plager and Hartwig have both filed for reelection, and as of press time, Oscar Garza has filed to run in the County Commissioner District No. 2 against Hartwig.

Information about the various precinct committee officer positions and statewide positions open for filing can be found under the “elections” link on the Adams County website, http://www.co.adams.wa.us along with online candidate filing forms and candidates that have already filed for election.

Filing fees for each position and an extensive list of statewide offices are also listed on the website. Candidates can file any time online or during regular business hours at the Adams County Auditor’s Office.

The Adams County Auditors Office is located at 210 West Broadway in Ritzville and can be reached by phone at 659-3247.

Those candidates who are filing for federal, statewide or state legislative offices that represent more than one county must file with the Secretary of State’s office. Filings can be sent by mail to the Secretary of State Legislative Building, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia WA 98504, or can be submitted online at http://www.sos.wa.gov.