County candidates run unopposed

WALLACE — Despite having several high profile local positions on the ballot, it appears that the biggest changes with this year’s county primary elections will not be with the candidates, but the voting process itself.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Brad Little and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney announced in late March that the May 19 primary elections would be mail-in only. This decision was made to ensure that all citizens have the ability to vote without the possibility of exposing themselves and poll workers to the virus.

“By enforcing absentee voting, we will not be opening any polling places in Shoshone County for the May 19 primary election, thus allowing you and our elections staff to remain safe in our own homes,” said Shoshone County Clerk Tamie Eberhard.

Under the new regulations for the primary election, voters have until May 19 at 5 p.m. to turn in an absentee ballot request form to the Shoshone County Courthouse either by dropping it off, mailing it, or completing the form online. The elections department will not grant ballot requests after May 19.

Copies of these forms have already been mailed out to voters, but are also available online at https://idahovotes.gov/vote-early-idaho/.

Eberhard urges residents to complete the request form as soon as possible so that she and her staff have time to verify the voter information. Once this process is done, the elections department will mail back the requested ballot.

Ballots are to be completed and sent back no later than June 2. If a ballot is received after June 2, it will not be counted.

Earlier reports from the state and county regarding voting deadlines should be ignored (i.e. previous notices stated the ballot request deadline was May 8. This is no longer accurate).

For more information on the upcoming primary election, contact the Shoshone County Courthouse at 208-752-1264. If participating by mail, send ballot request forms and completed ballots to the County Clerk at 700 Bank St. Ste 120, Wallace, ID 83873.

As far as Shoshone County races are concerned, options other than candidates seeking reelection are nonexistent. This also applies for the general election in November as well.

With no challengers within their own parties, opposing parties or write-in candidates, all the county candidates running this cycle will walk to victories in their respective races:

SHOSHONE COUNTY DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER

Incumbent Commissioner and Chairperson Mike Fitzgerald (D) will run unopposed in both the primary and general election to retain his District 1 seat for another four-year term.

SHOSHONE COUNTY DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER

Incumbent Commissioner Jay Huber (D) will run unopposed in both the primary and general election to retain his District 2 seat for another two-year term.

SHOSHONE COUNTY SHERIFF

Incumbent Sheriff Mike Gunderson (D) will run unopposed in both the primary and general election to retain his position for another four-year term.

SHOSHONE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

Incumbent Prosecutor Keisha Oxendine (D) will run unopposed in both the primary and general election to retain here position for another four-year term.

The News-Press will take a look at state-level races in our next primary election story.