Filing starts for vacated seats

Anyone interested in finishing four vacated terms serving local governments within Spokane County has until Friday to file for the November election.

A filing period begins today for candidates seeking to fill seats on the Spokane Valley City Council, Fairfield City Council, Deer Park School Board and Spokane County Fire District 10 Commission. Winners of the Spokane Valley and Fairfield council seats and the Deer Park School Board position will serve the remaining two years in the vacated terms. There are four years remaining in the vacated fire district position.

The Spokane Valley seat was vacated by Steve Taylor on June 30. He resigned to become city administrator of Connell, Wash. Earlier this month, remaining members of the council appointed Ian Robertson, the retired senior pastor of Spokane Valley Nazarene Church, to fill the seat until the election is held. Robertson has indicated that he will run to keep the seat.

The Fairfield position opened after the death of Councilman Carl Toetly. Toetly, the town’s former public works director, died June 21 from natural causes.

The seat on the Deer Park School Board opened after the death of W. David Franklin. Franklin, who owned Franklin Accounting and Tax Service, died from natural causes July 27. He was serving his third term on the school board.

The opening on Fire District 10’s board was created when Commissioner Jerry McCoury resigned last month. Remaining members appointed James McKelvey to the seat until a new member is elected. Fire District 10 serves much of the West Plains.

Anyone interested in running for the vacated seats must file in person between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today through Friday at the Spokane County Elections Office, 1033 W. Gardner Ave. There is a $90 fee to run for the Spokane Valley City Council seat. No fees are required to run for the other offices.