Interesting races in early West Plains candidate filings

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

The candidate filing period for elected offices in Spokane County is underway, and several races in West Plains cities have garnered challengers.

As of press time Tuesday, the largest so far is for mayor in Medical Lake.Incumbent City Council members Shirley Maike and Laura Parsons, along with a former council candidate Don Mayfield will face each other in a bid to replace out-going Mayor John Higgins in the August primary.

Monica Manza has filed to run for Maike’s council Position 2 seat, while Parson’s Position 6 isn’t up for election until 2019. Gary Plumlee and Michael Deeley have filed to run for Position 5, currently occupied by Elizabeth Rosenbeck, who was appointed to the seat last May.

Incumbents John Paikuli and AJ Burton have filed for reelection to Position 1 and 3 respectively.

In Airway Heights, the only contested race so far is for council Position 4, currently occupied by Tanya Dashiell, where Jared Lacambra and current Planning Commission member James (Sonny) Weathers are running. Incumbents who have filed are Kevin Richey (Position 1, council chair), Steve Lawrence (Position 2) and Doyle Inman (Position 6).

Cheney has no contested races as of press time, but does have a new candidate and a current elected official running for another office. Councilman Chris Grover has filed to run for mayor, currently occupied by Tom Trulove, while Paul Schmidt has filed to run for Grover’s council Position 1 seat.

Incumbent Councilwoman Teresa Overhauser has filed for reelection to Position 4, while no one had filed for Position 3, held by John Taves.

In school district seats, incumbent Cheney School Board Director Suzanne Dolle has filed for reelection for Position 2. No candidate had filed for Position 1 currently occupied by Marcie Estrellado.

In Medical Lake, Leo Spilker had filed for Position 1, currently held by Kelly Fouts, while no candidate had declared for Position 5, currently occupied by Peggy Schweikardt.

Incumbent Howard Marsh has filed for the lone commission seat up for election in Spokane County Fire District 3; Scott Rushing has filed for commissioner in the Four Lakes Water District and Mike Kimm had filed for a commissioner seat in Williams Lake Sewer District 2.

Interested individuals have until 4 p.m. Friday, May 19, to fill out filing paperwork and pay any necessary fee. The process can be done in person at the Spokane County Elections Department, or online at http://www.spokanecounty.org/177/elections.

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