Candidates for public office are starting their engines

A raft of elected positions are up for election in the Mid-Columbia this year and filing season is approaching fast.

The Benton and Franklin county commissions each have two seats up for election. All seats in the Washington House of Representatives are up for election as are the seven seats on the Benton-Franklin Superior Court.

Two Mid-Columbia legislative senate seats are up for grabs too after the incumbents decided against seeking new terms.

Local election officials began accepting filings by mail May 2 but will not process them until the official filing period, May 16-20. Learn more about filing for office in Franklin County at bit.ly/FranklinFiling2016 and in Benton County at bit.ly/BentonFiling2016.

The following is a roundup of the local offices up for election, the current office holder and the candidates who have registered campaigns with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.

Candidates must register with the commission, which tracks campaign spending. However, registering a campaign is not the same as filing for office. Some candidates who register campaigns may not actually run for office.

Washington’s non-presidential primary is Aug. 2. The general election is Nov. 8.

Terms are for four years unless otherwise specified.

Washington Legislature

Legislative District No. 8 (Benton County)

▪ State Representative Pos. 1. Incumbent is Brad Klippert, a Kennewick Republican who is seeking reelection. Rick Jansons, a Richland Republican, is running.

▪ State Representative Pos. 2. Incumbent is Larry Haler, a Richland Republican who is seeking reelection. Steve Simmons, a Kennewick Republican, is running.

Legislative District 9 (Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties)

▪ State Senator. Incumbent is Mark G. Schoesler, a Ritzville Republican who is seeking re-election. There are no other campaigns registered.

▪ State Representative Pos. 1. The two-year post is held by Mary Dye, a Pomeroy Republican appointed to the job a year ago. She registered her reelection plans in November. No other campaigns have been registered.

▪ State Representative Pos. 2. The two-year post is held by Joe Schmick, a Colfax Republican who registered his reelection campaign in February 2015. There are no other announced candidates.

Legislative District 16 (Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Walla Walla counties)

▪ State Senator. Incumbent is Mike Hewitt, a Walla Walla Republican who announced in January he won’t seek reelection. He registered his reelection campaign in 2013 and it remains active. State Rep. Maureen S. Walsh, R-Walla Walla, announced in April she will run for the Senate seat.

▪ State Representative Position 1. The two-year post is held by Maureen S. Walsh, who is running for the state Senate. Candidates include Bill Jenkin, a Prosser businessman and school board member, and Skyler Rude, a Walla Walla native and Walsh’s former legislative assistant. Mary Ruth Edwards, a Prosser Republican, registered her campaign for the seat in 2014. It remains active.

▪ State Representative Position 2. The two-year post is held by Terry R. Nealey, a Dayton Republican who is seeking reelection. There are no other announced candidates.

Benton-Franklin

Franklin County

▪ Commissioner No. 1. Incumbent is Brad Peck, a Pasco Republican who confirmed this week he is running for reelection. Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton and Franklin County Clerk Michael Killian, both Pasco Republicans, are running against Peck for the nomination.

▪ Commissioner No. 2. Incumbent is Bob Koch, a Connell Republican who is seeking reelection. There are no other campaigns registered.

Benton County

▪ Commissioner No. 1. Incumbent is Jerome Delvin, a Republican who is seeking reelection. There are no other announced candidates.

▪ Commissioner No. 2. Incumbent is James R. Beaver, a Kennewick Republican who is seeking reelection. There are no other announced candidates.

▪ Benton County Public Utility District Commissioner Pos. 1. The six-year term is nonpartisan and is held by Lori Sanders.

Judicial positions

Benton-Franklin Superior Court

▪ Judge Pos. 1 incumbent is Bruce Spanner

▪ Judge Pos. 2 incumbent is Robert Swisher, who is retiring from the bench. Samuel Swanberg of Pasco and Joe Burrowes of West Richland have registered campaigns.

▪ Judge Pos. 3 incumbent is Alexander Carl Ekstrom

▪ Judge Pos. 4 incumbent is Cameron Mitchell

▪ Judge Pos. 5 incumbent is Vic VanderSchoor

▪ Judge Pos. 6 incumbent is Carrie Runge

▪ Judge Pos. 7 incumbent is Jackie Shea Brown

Washington Supreme Court (6-year terms, nonpartisan)

▪ Justice Pos. 1 incumbent is Mary Yu, who is seeking reelection.

▪ Justice Pos. 5 incumbent is Barbara Madsen, who is seeking reelection.

▪ Justice Pos. 6 incumbent is Charlie Wiggins, who is seeking reelection.

Washington Court of Appeals, Division 3, District 2 (6-year terms, nonpartisan)

Judge Pos. 1 incumbent is George Fearing.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 7:17 PM with the headline "Candidates for public office are starting their engines."