Last-day filings round out Washington ballots

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers drew a third challenger and several other political races filled out Friday on the last day for candidates to file for office in Washington.

Tom Horne, of Nine Mile Falls, filed as a Republican against McMorris Rodgers, who is seeking a fifth term in Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District. Horne hasn’t filed with the Federal Elections Commission or made a formal campaign announcement. He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on his plans to unseat a fellow Republican. A search of newspaper files and the Internet indicates he’s a firefighter and the inventor of the “Jake knife,” a tool used by firefighters.

The race already includes independent Dave Wilson, a Spokane business consultant, and Democrat Joe Pakootas, chief executive officer of the corporation that manages Colville Tribal businesses.

Other last-day filings included former Spokane Valley Mayor Diana Wilhite, who made it a three-way race for a 4th Legislative District House seat, which also includes appointed incumbent Leonard Christian and Valley school teacher Bob McCaslin Jr. (Earlier versions of this story incorrectly identified McCaslin as a businessman.) Rep. Matt Shea filed for re-election to the other seat and drew a challenge from Josh Arritola, who runs a management consulting firm. All five 4th District candidates are Republicans.

Randy Glenn II, an information technology manager, filed as a Libertarian in the 3rd Legislative District House race that already included incumbent Democrat Marcus Riccelli and Republican Tim Benn, a day care center co-owner. Glenn is one of three Libertarians in local legislative races, along with Paul Delaney, of Spokane, who is running for the other 3rd District seat against Democratic Rep. Timm Ormsby, and James Apker, of Mead, who is challenging 7th District Republican Rep. Shelly Short.

Donald Dover, a retired manager of distance learning programs for Washington State University, filed as a Democrat against Republican Rep. Kevin Parker in the 6th District and Ronnie Rae, a Loon Lake attorney, filed with a “Centralist Party” preference against Republican Rep. Joel Kretz in the 7th District. Rae said that’s not a real party but a description of his political philosophy.

Three Spokane-area legislators who will be on the ballot seem headed for easy campaigns. Reps. Susan Fagan, Joe Schmick and Jeff Holy have no opponents filed against them.

Positions with primary contests on Spokane County ballots, and the party preference they list, are:

5th Congressional District: Tom Horne and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Republican; Joseph Pakootas, Democratic; Dave Wilson, Independent

3rd Legislative District (central Spokane): House Pos. 1: Tim Benn, Independent; Randy McGlenn II, Libertarian; Marcus Riccelli, Democratic

House Pos. 2: Paul Delaney, Libertarian; Timm Ormsby, Democratic

House Pos. 1: Leonard Christian, Bob McCaslin and Diana Wilhite, Republican

House Pos. 2: Josh Arritola and Matt Shea, Republican

6th Legislative District (West Plains and areas north and south of central Spokane):

Senate: Mike Baumgartner, Republican; Rich Cowan, Democratic

House Pos. 1: Donald Dover, Democratic; Kevin Parker, Republican

7th Legislative District (Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties and parts of Okanogan and northern Spokane counties):

Senate: Tony Booth and Brian Dansel, Republicans

House Pos. 1: James Apker, Libertarian; Shelly Short, Republican

House Pos. 2: Joel Kretz, Republican; Ronnie Rae, Centralist

Commissioner Dist. 3: Al French, Republican; Mary Lou Johnson, Democratic; Bonnie Mager, Independent

Assessor: Vicki Horton and Roger Trainor, Republican

Auditor: Vicky Dalton, Democratic; Alene Lindstrand, Republican

Prosecuting Attorney: Breean Beggs, Democratic; Larry Haskell, Republican

Sheriff: Ozzie Knezovich and Douglas Orr, Republican

Treasurer: Amy Biviano, Democratic; Rob Chase, Republican; Mary Kuney, Republican