Aug. 4 primary ballots arriving now to narrow Benton and Franklin commission, judge races

Half the county commissioners in Benton and Franklin counties are facing several challengers in the Aug. 4 primary election.

Ballots are arriving in homes now and will narrow the field for several state and federal offices, including for Washington state governor.

It also will decide which two candidates move on to the general election Nov. 3 in four Benton and Franklin county commission races and for a Benton Franklin Superior Court judge seat.

The top two vote-getters, no matter what party they affiliate with, in each race will advance to the general election.

Voters can also cast ballots in races with just two candidates but those races will not be decided until the Nov. 3 election.

Benton County

Incumbent Benton County commissioners Jerome Delvin and Jim Beaver are each facing multiple opponents.

Delvin has four challengers: Richland Councilman Michael Alvarez, businessman Donnie Landsman, real estate agent Jeff Smart, all Republicans, and Mid-Columbia Mastersingers’ artistic director Justin Raffa, a Democrat.

Jim Beaver has two opponents — former Benton County Deputy Joe Lusignan and contractor Will McKay. All three are Republicans.

Franklin County

In Franklin County, four candidates — farmer Terry Cissne, farm manager Cliff MacHugh, business owner Rocky Mullen, all Republicans, and community organizer Ana Ruiz Peralta, a Democrat — are seeking to replace retiring Commissioner Bob Koch.

In the other Franklin County commission race, county Auditor Matt Beaton, a Republican, and former teacher Kim Lehrman, a Democrat, are trying to unseat Commissioner Brad Peck, a Republican.

Superior Court

The election also will narrow the six-person race to replace retiring Superior Court Judge Bruce Spanner.

The candidates include state Sen. Sharon Brown, Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant, Bronson Brown, Talesha “Tali” Sams, Shelley Ajax and Dave Petersen.

Petersen is a Tri-Cities lawyer who served as the Pasco Municipal Court judge.

Ajax is an attorney who primarily handles criminal defense. Brown is the general counsel/city attorney for West Richland, the Kennewick School District and other public agencies.

Sams has been an attorney with the state Department of Social and Health Services and Adult Protective Services since 2008.

Congress

And in the 4th District congressional race, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, has five challengers — Tri-Cities attorney Doug McKinley, a Democrat, Libertarian Ryan Cooper, Independent Evan “Ev” Jones, and Republicans Sarena Sloot and Tracy “Justice” Wright.

Fire levy

West Richland voters will decide a Benton County Fire District 4 levy to hire more firefighters. Since 2014, the levy rate has dropped from $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.35 per $1,000.

The reduction has been driven by increasing property values in the area, according to the district. They are asking voters to return the property tax to the level it was in 2014.

The district serves 19,000 people across 52 square miles. Most of the district’s $5 million budget comes from the $2.8 million it receives through the fire levy.

Ballot drop boxes

People can still register to vote in the primary by mail or online until July 27, according to the auditor’s offices.

Ballots need to either be postmarked or put into a drop box on Aug. 4. No postage is needed.

Washington law allows voters to register in person and vote at a county election office before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Drop boxes are available in Benton County at:

• 2610 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Richland (new county voting center)
• 620 Market St. in Prosser
• 1009 Dale Ave. at Benton City Hall
• 5600 W. Canal Drive at the Benton County office Annex in Kennewick
• 210 W. Sixth Ave. at Kennewick City Hall
• Badger Mountain Community Park on Keene Road in Richland
• Jefferson Park off Symons Street in Richland
• 3803 W. Van Giesen St. at the West Richland Library
• 3100 Belmont Blvd. at the West Richland Shops
• 2710 Crimson Way at WSU Tri-Cities in Richland

In Franklin County, drop boxes are available at:

• 2108 Road 84 at the Franklin County Fire District 3 station
• 116 N. Third Ave. in Pasco at the Election Center
• 6600 Burden Blvd. in Pasco at the HAPO Center
• 1016 N. Fourth Ave. in Pasco at the Franklin County Courthouse
• 619 W. Clark St. in Connell at the Connell PUD shop