Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeSunday, Nov. 01, 2009
State, local race ballots due Tuesday
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer
Ballots are due Tuesday in a general election that includes two ballot measures, rare off-year state representative races in the 9th and 16th legislative districts, as well as nonpartisan races for city councils, school boards, port commissions and other local bodies.
Benton County drop boxes are open 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse, 620 Market St., Prosser; auditor's sub-office, 5600 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick; and auditor's sub-office, 101 Wellsian Way, Suite E, Richland.
Franklin County ballots can be dropped off at the courthouse, 1016 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Drop boxes are open 24 hours through 8 p.m. Tuesday at TRAC, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco; and the election center, 116 N. Third Ave., Pasco.
To read about the candidates, go to tricityherald.com and click "Elections" under the "News" tab.
State ballot measures
-- Initiative 1033 caps general fund revenue growth at inflation plus population growth. Any revenue collections over the cap must be used to lower property taxes unless voters agree to let government exceed the cap.
-- Referendum 71 asks voters to either approve or reject the Legislature's recent expansion of domestic partnership rights to grant all of the legal rights and benefits of marriage, but without actually allowing gay couples to wed. A "yes" vote affirms the law and allows rights to be expanded. A "no" vote rejects the law and keeps things as is.
16th Legislative District House Pos. 2
Eyes throughout the state will be turned to the 16th Legislative District this fall to see whether a relatively untested Democrat can hold the seat her father won for 11 consecutive terms.
The major question before voters is whether it's to their advantage to keep a voice in the majority party in Olympia, or if a Republican better represents the relatively conservative district's stances on the issues.
Candidates: Incumbent Laura Grant, D-Walla Walla, faces off against Republican Terry Nealey of Dayton.
Rep. Bill Grant died of cancer in January, and Laura Grant was appointed to his seat the next month.
9th Legislative Dist. House Pos. 1
Two friends -- both 61, both widows -- are vying to see who will replace Rep. Don Cox as 9th District state representative.
The seat was left open by the death of Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, in December, and the decision by Cox, R-Colfax, his appointed replacement, not to seek election this fall.
The election is the first time two Republicans vie for the seat.
Candidates: Susan Fagan of Pullman and Pat Hailey of Mesa.
Franklin County Criminal Justice Tax
Growth, crime and punishment have caught up with Pasco and Franklin County, say officials who want voters to approve a 0.3 percent sales tax increase on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Proposition 1 would bring in about $3 million a year, most of which would go to pay off 30-year bonds to construct a new police station and more than double the size of the county jail. The measure needs a simple majority of 50 percent plus one vote to pass.
Kennewick City Council
Five of seven seats on the Kennewick City Council are up for election.
The incumbents say the city has seen great progress in the past 12 years and is poised for more success if an incumbent council is allowed to continue.
Their opponents have a common comeback: It is time for change and to rethink spending priorities.
Candidates:
-- Pos. 1, Ward 1: Incumbent Marge Price and opponent Don Britain.
-- Pos. 2, Ward 2: Incumbent James Hempstead and opponent Sharon Brown.
-- Pos. 3, Ward 3: Mayor Tom Moak and opponent John Hubbard.
-- Pos. 4 At Large: Incumbent Bob Parks and opponent Candace Bluechel.
-- Pos. 7 Ward 3: Incumbent Steve Young and opponent Christopher Smart
Pasco City Council
Two contested races for Pasco City Council will be decided on the Nov. 3 ballot as the city faces tough decisions over a proposed Planned Parenthood clinic, a public safety tax and a new library contract.
Candidates:
-- District 2: Incumbent Mike Garrison and opponent Alecia Greenaway.
-- At-Large: Incumbent Tom Larsen and opponent Todd Samuel.
-- Councilman Bob Hoffman and Mayor Joyce Olson also are up for re-election, but are running unopposed for Districts 3 and 4.
Richland City Council
Two Richland City Council incumbents face challengers as the city works to streamline its budget and to make plans for future economic development and growth.
Candidates:
-- Pos. 3: Incumbent Sandra Kent and opponent Creighton Knight
-- Pos. 5: Incumbent Rita Mazur and opponent Phillip Lemley
-- Positions 1, 4 and 7 also are up for election, but Councilmen Bob Thompson and David Rose and Mayor John Fox are running unopposed.
West Richland mayor and City Council
Three incumbents are defending their positions, and a third seat will be decided between two newcomers. Major issues in the race have been the city budget and the need for economic development.
Candidates:
-- Mayor: Incumbent Dale Jackson and opponent Donna Noski
-- Council Pos. 1: Angie Tyree and Brent Gerry
-- Council Pos. 3: Incumbent Gail Brown and opponent Johann Curtiss
-- Council Pos. 4: Incumbent Mark Hanneman and opponent Richard Bloom.
Elections also are being conducted for the Kennewick School Board, Port of Kennewick, Kiona-Benton School Board, Prosser School Board, Benton County Fire Districts 1 and 3, Franklin County Fire District 3, Connell City Council, Othello mayor and Port of Walla Walla.
-- Michelle Dupler: 509-582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com
@Nyx.CommentBody@