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Local offices to be decided on Nov. 4 ballot

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
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. | November 1, 2025 3:39 PM

EPHRATA — Voters will be selecting people to fill a variety of local elected positions in Grant and Adams counties in tomorrow’s general election, everything from school boards to hospital district commissions to city councils. Most candidates are running unopposed, but some races attracted multiple candidates.  

Moses Lake 

Two of the four seats up for election on the Moses Lake City Council drew multiple candidates. Incumbent Deanna Martinez is being challenged by Jeremy Davis, and Joel Graves and Jim Perez are running for an open position; incumbent Judy Madewell did not file for reelection. 

Two candidates filed for the Moses Lake School Board, but one announced in mid-October that she was leaving the race. Mike Nordsten and Lila Baker are on the ballot, but Baker announced in mid-October that she was leaving the race due to health reasons. Nordsten will replace Ryan Coulston, who decided not to run for reelection. 

Ephrata 

Steve Oliver is challenging incumbent Bruce Reim for the job of Ephrata mayor. Candidates for four council seats are running unopposed.  

Quincy 

Mayor Paul Worley and all three Quincy City Council members running for reelection drew challengers in 2025.  

Worley will be challenged for his seat by Manny Rodriguez. Rob Madera is running against incumbent Jeff Spence for Position 2, and incumbent Andrew Royer is being challenged by Rey Esparza. Pete Shelton is running against incumbent Dave Dormaier. 

Othello 

Incumbent Mayor Shawn Logan drew a challenger, Ken Johnson, for the mayor’s job. Two candidates are running for an open seat on the Othello City Council and one council member is being challenged for her seat. 

Alma Carmona and Oscar Lopez are running for the council position vacated by Corey Everett. Incumbent Genna Dorow is being challenged for that position by Kelli Camp. 

One of the three Othello School Board races attracted two candidates. Juan “Jerry” Garcia and Birdie Fought are running for the seat vacated by Ken Johnson when he ran for mayor. Candidates for three other OSB seats are running unopposed. 

Warden 

One Warden School Board position attracted two candidates. Incumbent Shawn Clausen is being challenged by Ryan Arredondo. Two candidates for the Warden City Council are running unopposed. 

Soap Lake 

Soap Lake Mayor Peter Sharp is being challenged by a write-in candidate, current Soap Lake City Council member Karen Woodhouse. Two council candidates are running unopposed. 

Rebecca Leavell and Mark Novik are running for one of two seats on the Soap Lake School Board. Incumbent Dwight Deines was eliminated in the August primary. 

Mattawa 

Wahluke School Board member Luke Jenne is running against challenger Elia Mendoza. Three Mattawa City Council candidates are running unopposed. 

ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
April 3, 2026 3 a.m.

Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway

EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”

Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
April 2, 2026 1:48 p.m.

Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate

QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.

Othello Community Museum to open April 25
April 1, 2026 3:45 a.m.

Othello Community Museum to open April 25

OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.