Three mayors, new state rep. file on opening day

Three Whitman County mayors filed for re-election Monday, the first day open for filing this week for this year’s election.

Pullman Mayor Glenn A. Johnson filed Monday to run for his fourth term as mayor. Johnson was originally elected for his first term in November 2003 and took office in January 2004. He made history in November 2011 when he was elected for his third term, it being the first time a Pullman mayor had won three times. As of Wednesday morning, a challenger had not been filed against Johnson.

Palouse Mayor Michael S. Echanove has also filed for re-election. Echanove is also running for his fourth term, having first been elected in 2003. Palouse resident Brad Pearce has filed to run against Echanove.

Also running for re-election is Colton Mayor Jerry Weber, who was first elected eight years ago. As of Wednesday morning, Weber was unchallenged.

Early Wednesday morning, three-term Albion Mayor Randell Crowner also filed for re-election.

Also Monday, Mary Dye of Pomeroy, who was selected Friday to replace Susan Fagan as a 9th district state representative, filed for election to the office for a special one-year term.

Fagan resigned May 1 following a report alleging misuse of funds.

Tom Kammerzell of Colfax filed Monday for re-election to the Port of Whitman district three seat. Kammerzall was elected to his first term on the port board when he defeated Al Sorenson of Pullman with 55 percent of the vote in the 2011 election.

Also, Pullman Councilman Francis Benjamin, who came close to being one of the finalists last Wednesday when district precinct officers assembled at Ritzville, filed to retain his seat as a council member.

In addition to Benjamin, several council members are also running for election or re-election throughout Whitman County. The following list is current as of Wednesday morning:

COLFAX: Council Position 7: Thomas Huntwork (re-election)

PULLMAN: Council Position 1, Ward 2: Nathan Weller (re-election)

Council Position 3, Ward 3: Pat Wright (re-election)

Council Position 4, Ward 1: Francis Benjamin (re-election)

Council Position 6: Eileen (Mac) Macoll (re-election)

TEKOA: Council Position 2: Troy Wilson (re-election)

ALBION: Council Position 2: Ashlee Hunt (Incumbent Kirsten Frichette had not filed for re-election as of Wednesday).

Council Position 5: James Downes (re-election). COLTON: Council Position 2: Kyle White (re-election). Council Position 3: Sam Keller (re-election)

Council Position 4: Dorothy Sharp (re-election)

TOWN OF Endicott: Council Position 1: Steve Salzman (re-election)

Council Position 4: Judy Arneson (re-election)

TOWN OF GARFIELD: Council Position 1: Sharon Schnebly (re-election). Council Position 2: Mark Young (re-election)

Council Position 3: Tim Southern (re-election)

TOWN OF UNIONTOWN: Council Position 1: John Jacobs (Position currently vacant. Council Position 2: Brian Davies (re-election). Council Position 4: Daniel Baker (re-election) Several school district positions will also be on the ballot.

School Districts

WASHTUCNA: Director Position 1: Melinda Owens (position currently vacant).

LACROSSE: Position 2 at large: Tami Schwarts (re-election)

CLARKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Director 3: Lloyd R. Wallis (position currently vacant).

LAMONT: Position 3 at large: Julie McDaniel (re-election)

TEKOA: Director District 1: Robert Wilkins (re-election)

Director District 3: Janine Zimmerman (re-election). Director District 4: Michael McHargue (re-election)

PULLMAN : Director District 1: Susan Weed (re-election). Director District 2: Allison Munch-Rotolo (re-election)

Director District 3: James Evermann (position currently vacant.)

COLFAX: Director District 3: Robert Smith (re-election)

STEPTOE Position 2 at large: Valoree Gregory (incumbent Damon Burke has not filed as of Wednesday). Position 4 at large: Jessi Hall (re-election). Position 5 at large: Lavonne Kay Hall (re-election)

ENDICOT T: Position 1 at large: Greta White (re-election). Position 3 at large: Marvin Schmick (re-election)

Position 5 at large: Nancy Anderson (re-election)

ROSALIA: Director District 2: Clay Gehring (incumbent Graig Maley has not filed as of Wednesday)

Director District 3: Frank G Lazanco Sr (re-election)

ST JOHN: Director District 1: Chris Crider (Incumbent Corrie Tollett, who had not filed as of Tuesday afternoon).

Director District 3: Janet Leifer (re-election).

Also on the ballot will be fire, hospital and park district positions throughout Whitman County. Fire District Commissioners Chuck Petras (03), Robert Knott (06), Tom Henning (07), Terry Cochran (11) and Roger Hall (11) are all running for re-election, with no one filed to go up against them as of Wednesday morning.

Hospital District Commissioners Tricia Grantham (1A), Kevin Pickron (2) and Abby Smith (4) are running for re-election. Joy Drake, a Pullman resident, Diane Harp, a Tekoa resident, and Karen Blomgren, a Tekoa resident, are new to the ballot this year. Drake will be running in Hospital District 1A, and Harp and Blomgren will be running in Hospital District 4 for the commissioner 2 and commissioner 5 spots, respectively.

For the park districts, Denise Hasenoehrl has filed for re-election in Garfield Park District 2 and Sara Hudkins has filed for election in the currently vacant Rosalia Park District 5 position 5 slot.

Filing will continue to be open through 5 p.m. Friday