Incumbents file for election; Pasco Democrat files against Rep. Dye

Gazette intern reporter

All three Republican incumbents for the ninth district filed for re-election when state filing opened at the Secretary of State office. Rep. Joe Schmick, of Colfax and Rep. Susan Dye of Pomeroy filed for two-year terms Monday, and Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville filed for re-election to a four-year term.

In the county, Commissioner Art Swannack of Lamont and Commissioner Dean Kinzer of Pullman filed for re-election to four-year terms. Swannack represents district one and Kinzer represents district two. Both are Repulicans.

Colfax Attorney Gary Libey filed for superior court judge, a position which will be vacated by Judge David Frazier who has announced his intent to retire at the end of his term this year.

The two commission seats and the judge's position are the only county offices which will be on the ballot this year.

Pasco Democrat Jennifer Goulet also filed for the representive seat held by Dye, who was appointed last year to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Susan Fagan of Pullman. Dye was appointed in a special district commissioners meeting in Colfax May 8, 2015, and then elected to the position in November of last year.

A native of Tri-Cities, Goulet lived in the Midwest until 2008, when she made the move back home. She has an Associate of Arts degree from the College of DuPage in Illinois and is five credits short of a Bachelor of Applied Science at Columbia Basin College. Goulet is on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, a co-founder and president of the Tri-City Freethinkers nonprofit organization; a member of the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee, and a deputy field director for Bernie Sanders’ campaign.

Dye graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in plant science and crop management. She and her husband, Roger, operate a 3,000-acre wheat farm and also tend to 3,000 sheep.

She defeated Richard Latham of Kahlotus in the special November election which featured a race between two Republicans.

Filing week will continue through Friday for the state and county offices.