2016 campaign filing week brings out the candidates

The first day of filing season brought new and familiar faces as dozens raced to file for elected office.

May 16 to 20 is the filing period for federal, state and local offices. Candidates have until Friday to submit paperwork online or in person to county elections officials.

The race for U.S. president may be drawing a lot of attention, but local- and state-level posts hold far larger sway over local life.

In Washington, the governor’s job is up for reelection, as is the U.S. Senate seat held by Patty Murray. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Pasco, is seeking reelection, as is the entire state House of Representatives and about a third of the state Senate.

In the Mid-Columbia, the race for the 16th Legislative District House seat currently held by Maureen Walsh is the one to watch.

Walsh, a College Place Republican, is vacating her seat to run for the state Senate position held by Mike Hewitt, who is retiring.

The prospect of an open seat has drawn four Republicans and one Democrat into the fray.

The latest is Pasco Mayor Pro-tem Rebecca Francik, a Democrat who works as a librarian and teacher in the Pasco School District. Francik is interested in state and local infrastructure and served under Govs. Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire on the Public Works Trust Fund and the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.

Her chief priorities are education, infrastructure, health care and equal pay for women and minorities, she said.

The Republican challengers, so far, are Bill Jenkin, Prosser businessman and school board member; Skyler Rude, of Walla Walla and Walsh’s former assistant; Mary Ruth Edwards, a Prosser Republican; and Walla Walla Mayor Allen Pomraning.

The second 16th District House seat is held by Terry Nealey, a Dayton Republican, who is seeking reelection. Monday brought two primary challengers: Former Pasco School Board member Ricardo Espinoza and retired Richland School District custodian Gary Downing. Espinoza is running as a Republican, Downing as a Democrat.

Espinoza, who served on the Pasco School Board from 1997 to about 2006, wants to bring his bipartisan approach to Olympia to focus on fully fund education as required under the McCleary decision, the Supreme Court ruling that Washington is failing its constitutional mandate to fully fund education.

Gary Downing, a Kennewick resident who recently retired, said his top priorities include dedicating Lottery proceeds to education, fully funding education, closing tax loopholes, investing in infrastructure, homeless and veterans services, a $15 minimum wage and regulating political contributions.

Monday’s filings brought a challenger in the race to represent the more rural parts of Franklin County on its board of commissioners. Rodney “Rocky” Mullen, an east Pasco Republican, filed for the position held by Bob Koch. Koch, a Connell Republican, is seeking re-election.

Winners of the Aug. 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

For the most up-to-date lists of candidates, visit the Benton County Elections site, bit.ly/BentonCandidates, and the Franklin County Elections site, bit.ly/FranklinCandidates.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "2016 campaign filing week brings out the candidates."