Close Call, But Candidate Gets Chance To Face Barnes

Spokane City Council candidate John Talbott almost didn’t get the chance to face his chosen foe in the September primary.

Talbott filed for office late Friday afternoon, telling the clerk who typed his “Declaration of Candidacy” form that he wanted to run against incumbent Orville Barnes.

The clerk typed in position one. Talbott signed the form.

Unfortunately for Talbott, Barnes doesn’t hold the position one slot. He’s in seat two.

Auditor William Donahue agreed late Tuesday to change the filing from one to two so that Talbott can face Barnes in the primary.

Donahue consented after a lengthy discussion with a county attorney.

“That was (Talbott’s) full intent, to file for position two,” Donahue said. “With all the noise in the office, the clerk may have misunderstood.”

Talbott, who couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday, admitted at Monday’s City Council meeting he didn’t catch the mistake when he signed his name.

It’s the candidate’s burden to make sure the form is accurate, Donahue said. The form’s fine print says that “Once filed, your Declaration of Candidacy may not be altered or amended.”

Donahue said the same thing had happened “a couple times in the past. Usually, there’s not much we can do about it.”

, DataTimes