Candidates Make A Late Rush To File County Elections Office Busy With Last-Minute Entries

It looked like a fire sale Friday afternoon at the Spokane County Elections Office.

The last day to file as a candidate for a myriad of positions brought out 54 people - nearly a third of the 176 names that will appear on September’s county primary ballot.

“It’s been a madhouse,” said one worker. “It’s fun,” said Noel Elliot, assistant elections supervisor.

Many candidates made up their minds at the last minute. Not until they checked and re-checked the list did they decide what position to pursue - or whether to run at all.

“You need to consider your odds,” said Steve Thompson, who knew long ago he’d run for Spokane City Council but didn’t decide until 4 p.m. whom he wanted to challenge.

Others checked the list and filed because they didn’t want to see another candidate run unopposed.

“I can’t let that happen,” said Bonnie Szuch, who plans to run for the Cheney City Council.

Some just didn’t plan ahead.

“Don’t you just hate people who wait to the last minute?” said one man who came in about 4:30 p.m.

“Don’t use my name,” he pleaded. “This is my first election.”

As the 5 p.m. deadline drew closer, Chuck Ackerman walked in to take a peek at the filings. The bailiff for Superior Court Judge Paul Bastine wanted to know if his boss would have any competition.

“I’m here to body-block anybody that tries,” Ackerman said.

After the deadline, a group of about seven men milled around the office lobby, waiting to see whose name might appear first on the ballot, talking about the outcomes.

“This is going to be a big election,” said Calvin Cooney, a candidate for the Central Valley School Board.

, DataTimes