Political parties oppose process

EPHRATA - Seventy-five candidates are vying for 21 freeholder posts, following a special filing period ending Thursday night.

The large number of filings ensures every position is contested and Grant County is broadly represented.

"It's good to see multiple people competing for each of the 21 positions," said LeRoy Allison, a Grant County commissioner. "I'm glad there's that much interest, whether it's for or against the process."

A citizens' committee, Voters for Council-Manager Form of Grant County Government, secured the freeholder election, following a successful petition drive.

Seven freeholders are elected from each of the three county commissioner districts. The freeholders each represent more than 3,000 county residents, from two or more voter precincts.

"It's very encouraging to know that so many people are interested in studying county government," said Grant County Commissioner Deborah Moore.

Voters may still decide the home-rule charter process should not go forward, rendering the freeholder elections moot.

County Republican and Democratic leaders hope people vote against the home-rule charter process in the November general election.

Tom Dent, chairman of the Grant County Republican Party, said the current system of county government has worked well for the last 100 years.

"The current system has checks and balances," Dent said. "We're into electing people. If they're not working out, you can un-elect them."

Grant County Democratic Party Chair Ellie Webb said she opposes changes.

"County government is better served with elected officials," she said.

Both party leaders said the citizens' committee duped signers of the petition.

"The people who put this together have an agenda," Dent said. The committee, as its name suggests, is pushing for a council-manager form of county government, he said.

"I feel they deceived a lot of people collecting the signatures," Webb said.

Committee spokesman and leader Ralph Kincaid, a Moses Lake real estate agent, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Ephrata Mayor Chris Jacobson, a member of the committee, and now a freeholder candidate, said it's important for government to be scrutinized periodically.

Grant County would be better served by a larger, five-member board of county commissioners, Jacobson said. He would also like to see the commissioners, treasurer, sheriff, auditor and other county positions elected on a non-partisan basis.

"If nothing else comes out of this, at least people take more of an interest in government, which needs to happen," Jacobson said.

P.J. De Benedetti, a Moses Lake School District administrator, filed as a freeholder candidate.

"I just thought that looking at the form of government at the county level would be interesting, intriguing," De Benedetti said. "It's an opportunity to delve into how county government is working, find out if there's something better."

The candidate list also includes Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut. He's running against former district court judge Carl Warring and former Moses Lake Mayor Lee Blackwell.

Another educator, Big Bend Community College President Bill Bonaudi, is on the list.

Four former Grant County commissioners have filed as candidates, including Tim Snead, Helen Fancher, Glenn Chamberlain and Jim Weitzel.

Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant is running against former sheriff candidate Michael Shay. Grant County Clerk Kenneth Kunes is running.

Former Royal City Mayor Phil Leitz filed, along with current Wilson Creek Mayor Kathy Bohnet.

Defeated PUD commissioner candidate David Stevens, brother of County Commission Chairman Richard Stevens, is running.

County commissioners are formalizing the ballot wording today.