Candidate filing deadling Friday

Sun., June 1, 2008

By Jim Camden jimc@spokesman.com (509) 879-7461

It may seem as though the 2008 campaign season has been going on for years. But in Washington, it officially begins Monday morning.

That’s when elections officials begin the five-day period in which they will accept petitions of candidacy and filing fees that will allow candidates to appear on the primary ballot.

For months, potential candidates have floated the idea of running for the dozens of federal and state offices up for election this year. But this week it’s put up or shut up time; anyone who hasn’t turned in the paperwork and 1 percent of the office’s annual salary by 5 p.m. Friday isn’t running.

Under rules adopted for the state’s new “top two” primary, candidates can ask to have any party affiliation listed with their names. Major parties might endorse candidates who list that affiliation, but that information won’t show up on the ballot.

Voters will get one ballot and select one candidate for each office, but they will be free to choose candidates of different parties for different offices.

All candidates are competing against each other to finish first or second in the primary and get on the general election ballot in November. That means the general election could feature a choice between two members of the same party.

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