Garfield County ballots go out this week

POMEROY––Ballots for the 2024 General Election will be mailed this week by the Garfield County Auditor's Elections Department. Ballots were to be mailed Wednesday, October 16, said Shanda Wolf, Elections Director, and are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024.

Ballots may be delivered to the ballot boxes at the Garfield County Courthouse, or the 24-hour drive-up drop box accessible on the east side of the Courthouse, Wolf said. Ballots may also be mailed postage paid.

Wolf advised that voters' signatures will be more closely examined this election. Additional procedures have been established if a voter's signature is in question, she said. If the signature is rejected in the second check, it will be subject to a random compliance check.

Wolf encouraged voters to return their completed ballot at the earliest convenience.

Local candidates on the ballot include County Commissioners Jim Nelson, District 1, Republican, and Larry Ledgerwood, District 2, No Party Preference, both running unopposed for four-year terms.

Judge Pos. 1 for superior courts in Asotin, Columbia and Garfield counties is Brooke J. Burns, NP, running unopposed.

Legislative District 9 Representative Mary Dye, Pos. 1, Republican and Patrick Miller, Democrat, are vying for the position; Rep. Joe Schmick, Republican, and Pam Kohlmeier, Democrat are seeking State Representative Position 2, both for two-year terms. Senator Mark Schoesler, GOP, is unopposed for District 9 Senate seat for a four-year term.

State offices up for grabs include:

Governor (4-year term)-Bob Ferguson, Democrat, and Dave Reichert, Republican.

Lt. Governor (4-year term)-Denny Heck, Democrat, and Dan Matthews, Republican.

Secretary of State (4-year term)-Steve Hobbs, Democrat, and Dale Whitaker, Republican.

Treasurer (4-year term)-Mike Pellicciotti, Democrat, and Sharon Hanek, Republican.

State Auditor (4-year term)-Pat (Patrice) McCarthy, Democrat, and Matt Hawkins, Republican.

Attorney General (4-year term)-Pete Serrano, Republican, and Nick Brown, Democrat.

Commissioner of Public Lands (4-year term)-Jaime Herrera Beutler, Republican, and Dave Upthegrove, Democrat.

Supt. of Public Instruction (4-year term)-Chris Reykdal, non partisan, and David Olson, non partisan.

Insurance Commissioner (4-year term)-Patty Kuderer, Democrat, and Phil Fortunato, Republican.

Supreme Court Justice, Pos. 2 (6-year term)-Sal Muniga, NP, Dave Larson, NP.

Supreme Court Justice, Pos. 8 (6-year term)-Steve Gonzalez.

Supreme Court Justice, Pos. 9 (6-year term)-Sheryl Gordon McCloud.

Initiatives to the People: Initiative Measure No. 2066-concerns regulating energy services, including natural gas and electrification. This measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and/or promote electrification, and require certain utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers. Should this measure be enacted into law?

Initiatives to the Legislature: Initiative Measure No. 2109-concerns taxes. This measure would repeal an excise tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains of over $250,000. This measure would decrease funding for K-12 education, higher education, school construction, early learning, and childcare. Should this measure be enacted into law?

Initiatives to the Legislature: Initiative Measure No. 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This measure would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions-reduction. Should this measure be enacted into law?

Initiatives to the Legislature: Initiative Measure No. 2124-concerns state long term care insurance. This measure would provide that employees and self-employed people must elect to keep coverage under RCW 50B.04 and could opt-out any time. It would also repeal a law governing an exemption for employees. This measure would decrease funding for Washington's public insurance program providing long-term care benefits and services. Should this measure be enacted into law?

Voters should keep in mind that to repeal or decrease to content of the initiative, a yes vote is necessary. To agree with the idea of the initiative requires a no vote.

In Washington's Fifth Congressional District, candidates are Michael Baumgartner, Republican, and Carmela Conroy, Democrat. (2-year term)

Washington's Senate seat (6-year term) has candidates incumbent Maria Cantwell, Democrat, and Dr. Raul Garcia, Republican, seeking office.

For United States President and Vice President: Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz, Democrat; Donald J. Trump/J.D. Vance, Republican; Robert F. Kennedy Jr./Nicole Shanahan, We The People Party; Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware, Green Party; Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia, Socialism and Liberation Party; Rachele Fruit/Dennis Richter, Socialist Worker Party; Joseph Kishore/Jerry White, Socialist Equality Party; Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat, Libertarian Party; Cornel West/Melina Abdullah, Justice for All Party; Shiva Ayyadural/Crystal Ellis, Independent.