Lind council seats attract multiple candidates on first-day filing
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 10 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | May 17, 2023 1:20 AM
RITZVILLE — One seat on the Lind Town Council attracted three candidates while another seat attracted four candidates on the first day of filing for the 2023 general election. The filing period ends Friday.
Because there are more than two candidates for each position, both races will be on the ballot in the Aug. 1 primary election.
Incumbent James Dworshak filed for reelection, and will be challenged by three candidates, Denise Snead, Jim Weidemann and Briana Osborn. Myra Horton also filed for reelection to the council, and will face Heather Reed and Richard Baldwin in the primary.
Jack Curtis filed for the job of Ritzville mayor Monday. Incumbent Dede Boyer will face at least one challenger, Jessica Quinn, in the race for Ritzville City Council.
A vacant seat on the East Adams Rural Healthcare commission (Ritzville) attracted two candidates on the first day, Riley Hille and Guillermo Mendez. Incumbent John Kragt filed for reelection to his seat. Matt Kubik filed for a different seat on the hospital commission.
Othello School Board incumbents Thalia Lemus-DeLeon and Kelli Camp filed for reelection; Chris Baginski filed for a different school board seat. Ed Diefe, Carmen Weishaar and Chris Crossley filed for the Odessa School Board, and incumbent Rick Martin filed for reelection to the Warden School Board.
Many school districts in Adams County actually stretch across multiple counties.
An open seat on the Washtucna School Board attracted two candidates on the first day, Bridget Coon and Derrick Kehn. Alta Hunt filed for a different school board seat. Incumbents Patti Walker and Terry Utecht filed for reelection to the North Franklin School Board.
An open seat on the Benge School attracted a candidate, Whitney Kerr. Dean Kerr also filed for a school board job. Incumbent Seth Weekes Jr. filed for a new term on the LaCrosse School Board.
Sprague and Lamont have a combined district, but separate school boards. Incumbents Julie McDaniel and Chet Swift filed for reelection on the Lamont School Board, and Ronald Dixon filed for one of open seats. Tracey Korthuis, the incumbent, filed for a new term on the Sprague School Board.
Lind School Board incumbent Kevin Starring filed for reelection Monday. Rosemary Elkington filed for a different seat on the board. Incumbents Nancy Anderson, Marv Schmick and Jana Mathia filed for reelection to the Endicott School Board.
Homer Montemayor filed for the lone open seat on the Port of Othello commission. Incumbent Sue Long-Hosek filed for a new term on the Othello Community Hospital commission.
David Baumann filed for a seat on the Adams County Fire District 7 (Washtucna) commission; Jon Fink filed for a commission position with Adams County Fire District 3 (Odessa). LeRoy Watson Jr. filed for Adams County Fire District 2 (Lind).
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at [email protected].
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