Local politics warming up

Four of the five Electric City Council seats are up for election this year, as is the mayor’s office, and interest is running higher than usual.

It’s filing week in Washington, and people interested in running for elected office have until Friday to file their intentions.

In Electric City, council positions held by Rich McGuire (position 2), Birdie Hensley (3), Carol Nordine (4), and Lonna Bussert (5) are up for election.

The seat held by McGuire, who on Tuesday withdrew his candidacy, is up for a two-year stint, according to the Grant County elections website. The others are all for four years.

The mayoral office is also up for a two-year term.

So far, Hensley has filed for McGuire’s position 2, as has Kurt Steinke. Brian Buche has filed for Hensley postion 3.

Position 4 is sought by Todd F. Kinzel.

And Diane Kohout is so far the lone seeker of the mayor’s office.

In Grand Coulee, Cameron Whitney has filed his intention to seek the mayor’s office. Mayor Paul Townsend has also filed.

Tracy Wright, who lives at the same address as Whitney, has filed for council seat 5, currently held by Alan Cain, who is seeking re-election.

In Coulee Dam, council positions 4 and 5, held by Ben Alling and Keith St. Jeor, are both open for election. Neither of them has yet filed, and Alling has said in council meetings he does not intend to.

In Elmer City, Mayor Jesse Tillman had not yet filed for re-election. And council positions 1, 2, 4, and 5 are all up. No one has yet filed to seek them.

Similarly, in Nespelem, council positions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are all open, as is the mayoral office, but no one has yet filed.

In Okanogan County Fire District 2, at Elmer City, no one has yet filed for commissioner positions 1 or 3.

In Hospital District 6, no has filed yet for commission positions currently held by Kristan Hare and Betty Brueske.

Candidates for elected office have until 5 p.m. Friday to file in person, or until 4 p.m. if filing online.