MOSES LAKE — Brian McGowan, R-Moses Lake, will not be allowed to run for Grant County Commissioner District No. 2, because of state election law regarding repeat candidates like himself.

Earlier this week, McGowan announced he would be running as a write-in candidate after he came in third behind former Moses Lake Fire Department Chief Tom Taylor, R-Moses Lake, and local businessman Nathan Pack, R-Moses Lake, in the Aug. 2 primary.

McGowan said he made the decision to run as a write-in candidate after media reports brought into question Pack’s conduct. Pack was convicted of DUI this week from an offence he committed last year. The Revised Code of Washington does not permit McGowan to run as a write-in candidate because his name previously appeared on the primary election ballot.

The law states that people cannot file as a write-in candidate if they either filed as a write-in candidate for the same office at the preceding primary or the person’s name appeared on the ballot for the same office at the preceding primary.

— Staff report