Have a say in local politics. 100+ seats up for grabs on Mid-Columbia boards
It’s decision time for people interested in having a say in local decisions about schools, taxes and more.
Filing week is May 5-9. In the Tri-Cities, more than 100 seats on local, nonpartisan city councils, school boards, port commissions and other public boards are on the 2025 ballot.
Candidates are encouraged to file their declaration of candidacy online. The system goes live at 8 a.m. May 5 and closes at 5 p.m., May 9.
Filing fees range from nothing to several hundred dollars depending on the position. If it’s a paid position, candidates pay 1% of the position’s salary as the filing fee.
The Aug. 5 primary will narrow the field of candidates to two who then face off in the Nov. 4 general election. Winners take office in January 2026.
To be eligible, office seekers must be registered to vote in the district for which they are filing, pay filing fees (if any) by credit card and supply a valid email. Filing information is posted online.
Benton County elections site
Franklin County elections site.
Walla Walla elections site.
Benton County
Kennewick
- Port of Kennewick Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Thomas Moak not seeking reelection. Filing fee is $360.
- Kennewick City Council Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent is Gretl Crawford. Filing fee is $171.
- Kennewick City Council Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Loren Anderson. Filing fee is $171.
- Kennewick City Council Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent is John Trumbo. Filing fee is $171.
- Kennewick City Council Pos. 4 (at large), four-year short and full term. Incumbent is Jason McShane. Filing fee is $171.
- Kennewick School District Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent is Micah Valentine. No filing fee.
- Kennewick School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Gabe Galbraith. No filing fee.
- Kennewick Public Hospital District Pos. 1, six-year short and full term. Incumbent is Shannon Phipps. No filing fee.
- Kennewick Public Hospital District Pos. 4, two-year unexpired term. Incumbent is Spencer Harris. No filing fee.
- Kennewick Public Hospital District Pos. 5, six-year term. Incumbent is Wanda Briggs. No filing fee.
- Kennewick Public Hospital District Pos. 6, six-year term. Incumbent is Rick Reil. No filing fee.
Richland
- Port of Benton Pos. 1, six-year term. Incumbent is Roy Keck. Filing fee is $180.
- Richland City Council Pos. 3 (at large). Incumbent is Sandra Kent. Filing fee is $152.
- Richland City Council Pos. 4 (at large). Incumbent is Ryan Lukson. Filing fee is $152.
- Richland City Council Pos. 6 (at large). Incumbent is Kurt H. Maier. Filing fee is $152.
- Richland City Council Pos. 7 (at large). Incumbent is Ryan Whitten. Filing fee is $152.
- Richland School District Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent is Bonnie Mitchell. No filing fee.
- Richland School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Rick Jansons. No filing fee.
*The Richland City Council member elected with the fewest votes receives a two-year term. The rest receive four-year terms.
West Richland
- West Richland City Council Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent is John E. Smart. Filing fee is $84.
- West Richland City Council Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Ken Stoker. Filing fee is $84.
- West Richland City Council Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent is May Hays. Filing fee is $84.
- West Richland City Council Pos. 4, four-year term. Incumbent is Richard Bloom. Filing fee is $84.
- West Richland mayor, four-year term. Incumbent is Brent Gerry. Filing fee is $840.
Benton City
- Benton City City Council Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent is Bosse Wadsworth. No fee.
- Benton City City Council Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Bill Reed. No fee.
- Kiona-Benton City School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent is Joshua Skipper. No fee.
- Kiona-Benton City School District Pos. 3, four-year term. No fee.
- Kiona-Benton City School District Pos. 5, four-year term. No fee.
Prosser
- Prosser City Council Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent Don Aubrey. Filing fee is $43.
- Prosser City Council Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent Morgan Everett. Filing fee is $43.
- Prosser City Council Pos 3, four-year term. Incumbent Felix Cortes. Filing fee is $43.
- Prosser School District Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent Elisa V. Riley. No filing fee.
- Prosser School District Pos. 4, four-year term. Incumbent Jason Rainer. No filing fee.
- Prosser Public Hospital District Pos. 1, four-year unexpired term. Incumbent Samantha Markus. No filing fee.
- Prosser Public Hospital District Pos. 4, six-year term. Incumbent Brandon Bowden. No filing fee.
- Prosser Public Hospital District Pos. 5, six-year term. Incumbent Glenn M. Bestebreur. No filing fee.
- Prosser Public Hospital District Pos. 6, six-year term. Incumbent Stephen Kenny. No filing fee.
Benton County specialty districts
- Fire District No. 1, Pos 3, regular term.
- Fire District No. 2, Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Steve Rouse. No filing fee.
- Fire District No. 4 Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Garrett Goodwin. No filing fee.
- Fire District No. 5 Pos 2, six-year term. Incumbent Kody Hartley. No filing fee.
- Fire District No. 6 Pos 2, six-year term. Incumbent Robert Crow. No filing fee.
- West Benton Regional Fire Authority Pos. 1 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Randy Cobble. No filing fee.
- County Well Water District Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Randy Mercer. No filing fee.
- Plymouth Water District Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Austin Wyatt. No filing fee.
- Tri-City Estates Water District Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Rick Jansons. No filing fee.
Benton County Rural School Districts
- Paterson School District Pos. 1, four-year term. Incumbent Lindsay Joshlin. No filing fee.
- Paterson School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent Shane Munn. No filing fee.
- Finley School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent Tom LaFortune. No filing fee.
- Finley School District, at-large, four-year term. Incumbent Cathy Krug. No filing fee.
- Grandview School District Pos. 1, two-year unexpired term. No incumbent. No filing fee.
- Grandview School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent Heather Garcia Mendoza. No filing fee.
- Grandview School District Pos. 5, four-year term. No incumbent. No filing fee.
Franklin County
Pasco
- Port of Pasco Commissioner Pos. 2, full six-year term. Incumbent Jean Ryckman is retiring. Filing fee is $180.
- Port of Pasco Commissioner Pos. 3: two-year unexpired term. Appointee Hans-Joachim Engelke will seek election. Filing fee is $180.
- Pasco School District Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent Amanda Brown. No filing fee.
- Pasco School District Pos. 4, four-year term. Incumbent Amy Freeman Phillips. No filing fee.
- Pasco School District Pos. 5 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Steve Simmons. No filing fee.
- Pasco City Council Pos. 1 , four-year term. Incumbent Blanche Barajas. Filing fee is $133.
- Pasco City Council Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent Leo Perales. Filing fee is $133.
- Pasco City Council Pos. 4, four-year term. Incumbent Pete Serrano. Filing fee is $174.
- Pasco City Council Pos. 6, four-year short and full term. Incumbent Melissa Blasdel. Filing fee is $133.
Kahlotus
- Port of Kahlotus Pos. 1: full six-year term. Incumbent is Richard Halverson. No filing fee
- Port of Kahlotus Pos. 1: two-year unexpired term. Incumbent Josiah Van Hollebeke. No filing fee.
- Kahlotus School District Pos. 2: four year term. Incumbent Chance E. Trainer. No filing fee.
- Kahlotus School District Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent Kelly Cochrane. No filing fee
- Kahlotus School District Pos 4 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Gary Jennings. No filing fee.
- Kahlotus City Council Pos. 1 (at large), four-year short and full term. Incumbent Robitaille. Filing fee is $24.
- Kahlotus City Council Pos. 2 (at large), four-year short and full term. Incumbent Aaron Wells. No filing fee.
- Kahlotus City Council Pos. 3 (at large), four-year short and full term. Incumbent Perrie Robitaille. No filing fee.
- Kahlotus City Council Pos. 4 (at large), two-year unexpired term. No filing fee.
Connell
- Connell City Council Pos 1 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Mayor Lee Barrow. Filing fee is $202.
- Connell City Council Pos. 2 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent John White. Filing fee is $41.
- Connell City Council Pos. 3 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Patricia Barrera. Filing fee is $41.
- Connell City Council Pos. 4 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Joe Escalera. Filing fee is $41.
- North Franklin School, Pos. 3, four year term, Incumbent Lori Mercer. No filing fee.
- North Franklin School District Pos. 4, four-year term. Incumbent Pat Hailey. No filing fee.
- North Franklin School District Pos. 5, unexpired two-year term. Incumbent Hannah Shaw. No filing fee.
Mesa
- Mesa City Council Pos. 1 (at large), two-year unexpired term. Incumbent Nathan Southwick. No filing fee.
- Mesa City Council Pos 2 (at large), two-year unexpired term. No filing fee.
- Mesa City Council Pos. 4 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Jay Michael Dillard. No filing fee.
- Mesa City Council Pos. 5 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Maria Chiprez. No filing fee.
- Mesa City Council Pos 6 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Mayor Jim Cronenwett. No filing fee.
Franklin County rural school districts
- Othello School District Pos. 1, four-year term., no filing fee.
- Othello School District Pos. 3, four-year term. Incumbent Ken Johnson. No filing fee.
- Othello School District Pos. 4 (at large), four-year term. Incumbent Lindsey Mollotte Prows. No filing fee.
- Star School District Pos.4, four-year term. Incumbent Richard Wiswall. No filing fee.
- Star School District Pos. 5, four year term. Incumbent Nolan Van Hollebeke. No filing fee.
- Washtucna School District Pos. 2, four-year term. Incumbent Derrick Kehn. No filing fee.
- Washtucna School District Poss. 4, four-year term. Incumbent Steve Crouse. No filing fee.
- Washtucna School District Pos. 5, four-year term. No incumbent or filing fee listed.
Franklin County specialty districts
- Fire Protection District No. 1 Pos. 3 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Matthew B. Smith. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 2 Pos. 3 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Todd VanHollebeke. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 2 Pos. 4 (at large), six-year short and full term. Incumbent A. Joseph Roach. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 2 Pos. 5 (at large), six year term. Incumbent Travis Matthews. No filing fee
- Fire Protection District No. 3 Pos. 2 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Gary Larsen. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 4 Pos. 3 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Kim Pauley. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 5 Pos. 1 (at large), four-year unexpired term. Incumbent Clyde Brubaker. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 5 Pos. 2 (at large), two-year unexpired term. Incumbent Roger Richardson. No filing fee.
- Fire Protection District No. 5 Pos. 3 (at large), six-year short and full term. Incumbent Scott Hayles. No filing fee.
- Cemetery District 1 Pos. 1 (at large), six-year term. Incumbent Connie Smith. No filing fee.
- Cemetery District 2 Pos. 3 (at large), six-year short and full term. Incumbent Marcellene E. Hueter. No filing fee.
- Hospital District 1 Pos. 2, six-year term. Incumbent Lori Hayles. No filing fee.
- Basin City Water-Sewer District Pos. 1 (at large), six year term. Incumbent Robert E. Andrews. No filing fee
- Basin City Water-Sewer District Pos. 2 (at large), four-year unexpired term. No incumbent listed. No filing fee.
- Basin City Water-Sewer District Pos. 3 (at large), two-year unexpired term. Incumbent Bruce L. Rhodes. No filing fee.
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
Wendy Culverwell
Tri-City Herald