Courthouse: Elected officials begin to announce campaigns

Sheriff Brett Myers was first, and several of Whitman County’s elected officials followed suit this week in announcing their intentions to seek another four years in their respective offices.

Myers Monday announced his campaign for a third term as the county’s top law enforcement official. Myers, a former deputy, unseated Steve Tompson as Sheriff in the 2002 election and was unopposed in his 2006 re-election bid.

Coroner Pete Martin, the longest tenured elected official will run for the post for the eighth time this summer. He was appointed to the position in 1981 and won his first election in 1982.

Treasurer Robert Lothspeich will seek his third full term in office this summer. He was appointed and later elected to the post in 2000 to replace Mary Crawford who retired that year.

Auditor Eunice Coker said she will go for another term this year Monday. Coker bested Kirk Suess of Steptoe in 2004 to take office for the first time. She then won re-election over Nathan Horter of Pullman in 2006.

Assessor Joe Reynolds will seek a fifth term in office. He was first elected to the post in 1990.

Several other offices will be on the ballot this year, though the incumbents have yet to announce their intentions.

Superior Court Clerk Shirley Bafus said she also plans to seek another term. Bafus was appointed clerk in 1984 and won her first election in 1985. She has since been re-elected six times.

Other incumbents are County Commissioner Michael Largent, District Court Judge Douglas Robinson and Prosecuting Attorney Denis Tracy.