Candidates Shuffle Spots On Ballot

All the chairs were full this week in Ferry County after the municipal election music stopped and the candidates stopped shuffling.

Jack McManigal withdrew from the Republic City Council race for which he originally filed and, during a special three-day filing period this week, switched to a different race.

McManigal originally filed to compete with Linda Hall for the city council position being vacated by Thomas Hern. When Councilman Charles Starkey failed to file for re-election and no one else sought the position, McManigal switched to that race. Now he and Hall will run unopposed.

In the Pend Oreille County town of Metaline, incumbent Town Councilwomen Jan DeGroat and Tori Reeve failed to file for re-election, but they can keep their jobs if they wish. No one else filed for their positions - not even during the special filing period for races with no candidates.

Metaline Town Clerk Ruth Reiber said DeGroat, who stepped down as mayor in June and was appointed to the council in July, didn’t file for re-election because she isn’t sure she wants to remain on the council. Reeve failed to file because she was out of town, Reiber said.

Teresa A. Gustaveson took advantage of the special filing period to claim the only previously uncontested municipal office in Lincoln County, a Creston Town Council position.

All the municipal races in Stevens County were filled during the regular filing period.

, DataTimes