Decisions, decisions

There’s more to decide than just the local school levy in the upcoming primary election Aug. 7.

With local voters tasked with making choices between some 70 candidates seeking nine offices in the upcoming primary, The Star has reached out to all candidates, asking them to tell readers why they deserve your vote.

Voters looking for a reason to pick one candidate over another may look for their responses in our Aug. 1 issue, in which we will publish their paid advertisements submitted in response.

Local voters, split up into many different districts, will consider candidates running for offices in:

• county offices of Grant, Okanogan, Lincoln and Douglas counties;

• legislative districts 7, 12 and 13;

• congressional districts 4 and 5; and

• public utility districts in Grant, Douglas and Okanogan counties.

Ballots for the Aug. 7 primary should be mailed to voters by July 23.

From a wide-open primary in the 12th Legislative District, where Rep. Cary Condotta has chosen not to run again, to various offices up for election in four local counties, to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s re-election bid against 28 challengers, there’s a lot to sort out.

Although this community is split by many jurisdictions, it can be a crucial area to carry in a tight race. Former Grant County commissioner Tim Snead credited the area with putting him in office for that reason.

With limited staff and resources, The Star offered advertising to the candidates so they could tell readers in their own words why they should be elected.

In the oft-repeated words of the top politician in the country, “We’ll see what happens.”