Pasco Democrat jumps in race to challenge WA state Senate leader

A Pasco Democrat is making a run at unseating the state Senate’s Republican leader, Mark Schoesler.

Jenn Goulet, a co-founder and former president of Tri-City Freethinkers and Planned Parenthood board member, filed late Friday for the seat held by Schoesler. It will be her third attempt at the state Legislature.

Schoesler has been in the legislature for 27 years, first as a representative, then as a senator starting in 2004. He’s running to serve another four-year term.

Goulet challenged Rep. Mary Dye in 2016 and 2018.

“I wasn’t planning to ever run for office again, but all three legislators in the 9th Legislative District were about to run unopposed and, well, my arm got twisted by a few people and I can’t in good conscience sit back,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

She criticized the senator for blocking Gov. Jay Inslee’s attempt to extend the ability for people to get domestic violence protection orders served electronically, and for hearings to be held by video, audio or by telephone.

Filing week wrapped up Friday, and 53 candidates filed for the 22 seats up for election this year in the Mid-Columbia.

The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 4 primary will move on to the general election Nov. 3.

4th District U.S. House

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse will face five challengers to keep his seat in Congress representing the 4th District.

Newhouse, R-Wash., was first elected to the U.S. House in 2014, after 10-term incumbent Doc Hastings did not seek re-election.

Ryan Cooper, one of the leaders in the Benton and Franklin County Libertarian Party, ran against state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, in 2018. He also helped with a campaign aimed at loosening restrictions on cannabis retailers in Richland.

Tracy Wright, a former Grand Coulee council candidate with a history of clashing with her town government, is trying her hand at running for federal office.

Richland attorney Doug McKinley, a Democrat, is a former Pacific Northwest National Laboratory attorney who now handles civil cases made a similar bid in 2016.

Sarena Sloot, a Kennewick nurse practitioner and Republican, is running with the slogan, “Health, Choice, Change.”

Richland independent Evan Jones was the last candidate to enter the race.

Benton County Commission

Incumbent Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin will face four challengers this year.

Justin Raffa, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers’ artistic director, is running as the only Democrat.

Richland Councilman Michael Alvarez, businessman Donnie Landsman and real estate agent Jeff Smart also filed.

And Benton County Commissioner Jim Beaver has drawn his own group of challengers.

Former Benton County deputy Joe Lusignan, and businessman Will McKay are seeking to replace him.

Both men are new to politics, but McKay’s father holds a position on the Kennewick City Council.

Franklin County Commission

Terry Cissne, the owner of Ridgeview Farms, a Republican, added his name to the growing list of candidates seeking Bob Koch’s spot. Koch announced that he’s not seeking another term this year.

Cissne will compete against Ana Ruiz Ramirez, Rocky Mullen and Cliff MacHugh for a position on the three-person board.

Packing shed manager Cliff MacHugh is also seeking the position as a Republican. He is part of Jackass Mt. Ranch, a family farm that produces and packs cherries and other produce.

Mullen, a Franklin County native, is running as a Republican. He and his wife own and operate Sahara Pizza, Big Western, Big Western Auctions and Dove Financial.

A former challenger, Mullen lost a close race for the spot in 2016 after it ended up in a recount.

Ruiz Ramirez is running as the only Democrat in the race. She has a history of community involvement, including helping to broker the sister city agreement between Pasco and the Mexican state of Colima and co-founding the Pasco Taco Crawl.

And incumbent Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck will face two opponents in the primary.

Matt Beaton, Franklin County’s Republican auditor, is making another attempt to unseat Peck after losing in 2016.

Newcomer Kim Lehrman, a Pasco Democrat, added her name to the August ballot. She joined the race because she believes the “people who live here deserve a county government as good as they are.”

Superior Court Judge

State Sen. Sharon Brown has joined the crowded race for the seat being vacated by Judge Bruce Spanner.

Five other attorneys — Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant, Bronson Brown, Talesha “Tali” Sams, Shelley Ajax and Dave Petersen — filed for the bicounty court’s Position 1.

Here are this week’s filing ins Benton and Franklin counties:

County commissions

Benton County, Pos. 1, Michael Alvarez, Jerome Delvin (incumbent), Donnie Landsman, Jeff Smart, Justin Raffa

Benton County, Pos. 3, Jim Beaver (incumbent), Joe Lusignan, Will McKay

Franklin County, District 1, Matt Beaton, Kim Lehrman, Brad Peck (incumbent)

Franklin County, District 2, Terry Cissne, Cliff MacHugh, Rocky Mullen, Ana Ruiz Ramirez

Judicial

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 1, Shawn Sant, Bronson Brown, Talesha “Tali” Sams, Shelley Ajax, Sharon Brown

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 2, Joe Burrowes (incumbent)

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 3, Alex Ekstrom (incumbent)

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 4, Cameron Mitchell (incumbent)

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 5, Sam Swanberg (incumbent)

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 6, Carrie Runge (incumbent)

Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Pos. 7, Jackie Shea Brown (incumbent)

Legislature

Representative, District 8, Pos. 1, Brad Klippert (incumbent), Shir Regev

Representative, District 8, Pos. 2, Matt Boehnke (incumbent), Larry Stanley

Representative, District 9, Pos. 1, Mary Dye (incumbent), Brett Borden

Representative, District 9, Pos. 2, Joe Schmick (incumbent),

Representative, District 16, Pos. 1, Frances Chvatal, Mark Klicker

Representative, District 16, Pos. 2, Carly Coburn, Skyler Rude (incumbent)

Senator, District 9, Mark G. Schoesler (incumbent), Jenn Goulet

Senator, District 16, Danielle Garbe Reser, William “Bill” Jenkin, Perry Dozier

Congress

Representative, District 4, Dan Newhouse (incumbent), Doug McKinley, Ryan Cooper, Tracy Wright, Sarena Sloot, Evan Jones

Specialty

Benton County PUD, Pos. 2, Jeff Hall (incumbent), Pat Tucker

Franklin County PUD, Pos. 2, Casey Cochrane, Curtis DeWoody, Bill Gordon (incumbent)

Track Benton County filings and Franklin County filings.

This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 1:14 PM.