Twenty local offices on the November election slate

The filing period for individuals wishing to run for public office opened Monday, May 11, at the Spokane County Elections office, and with it the potential for a busy election season on the West Plains.

Prospective candidates have until tomorrow, May 15, to file the paperwork and appropriate filing fee for the office they intend to seek. On the West Plains, there are 20 positions up for election between the city councils of Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights along with the Cheney and Medical Lake school districts and the two local county fire districts.

Cheney City Council positions up for election are Position 2 currently held by Doug Nixon, Position 5 held by Ryan Gaard, Position 6 held by Jill Weiszmann and Position 7 held by Graeme Webster. Webster informed the Cheney Free Press after Tuesday night’s council meeting that he did not intend to run for reelection, having held the seat for six years.

In Medical Lake, Position 1 held by John Paikuli, Position 5 held by Howard Jorgenson, Position 6 held by Laura Parson and Position 7 held by Art Kulibert are all up for election. In Airway Heights, seats up for election are Position 3 held by Jack Collins, Position 5 held by Kevin Richey and Position 7 held by Dave Malet.

All offices are non-partisan, four-year terms with the exception of Paikuli’s, which is a two-year un-expired term and Gaard and Collins, which are a four-year short and full term. All three council members have replaced former members who resigned, Brenda Redell in Medical Lake, Bob Stockton in Cheney and Baron Williamson in Airway Heights.

Cheney School District Board of Director positions up for election are Director 3 held by Henry Browne, Director 4 held by Rick Mount and Director 5 held by James Whiteley. In the Medical Lake School District, positions up for election are Director 2 held by Rod Von Lehe, Director 3 held by Felicia Jensen and Director 4 held by Ronald Cooper.

Local fire districts with positions up for election are Spokane County Fire District 3 Commissioner Position 2, held by Ron McKinley and Fire District 10 Commissioner Position 2 held by Ken Pegg.

Individuals wishing to file for these offices can do so until 4 p.m. May 15 at http://www.spokanecounty.org/elections. You may also file in person at the county Elections Department, 1033 W. Gardner Ave. in Spokane.

For more information, call the Elections Department at 477-2320.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.