Candidates must file for office by Friday

Candidates for local offices around Washington will officially enter their races this week as filing week begins this morning.

On the ballot this year are council seats in cities and towns throughout Washington, as well as many mayoral slots. The city of Spokane has three openings – one for each council district – and the city of Spokane Valley has four at-large council seats on this year’s ballot. 

Neither city has a mayor’s race – Spokane’s isn’t until 2015 and Spokane Valley’s mayor is chosen from the council – but Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Medical Lake, Millwood and Rockford are all electing mayors this year.

Many school districts, fire districts, water districts and cemetery districts also have positions on the ballot.

Most races are nonpartisan, but Eastern Washington’s 7th Legislative District has a partisan race to fill a state Senate seat. Bob Morton resigned his seat at the end of last year, and John Smith, a Colville businessman, was appointed to fill the position at the start of the legislative session. To retain the seat, Smith will have to survive the August primary and win the November election.

Most candidates have until the elections office in their county closes Friday afternoon to file for office. Candidates for offices in districts that cover more than one county, such as the 7th Legislative District, file with the secretary of state in Olympia.