August Primary Election on the horizon

COLFAX - Ballots for the Tuesday, August 6, Primary Election are en route or in the hands of voters.

In this year's primary election there are five local candidates.

Three candidates are vying for Whitman County Superior Court Judge, a four year term.

Jenna Brozik, Presiding Judge Pro Tem Colfax Municipal Court and owner and managing attorney of Prinz and Brozik PLLC, is running. Brozik has practiced law since 2010, in civil litigation and criminal law.

"Of all the candidates, I have substantially more experience in civil law while also having experience in criminal law," said Brozik in her statement in the voter's pamphlet.

Also running for Superior Court Judge, Roger Sandberg has served in Whitman County 16 years private practice as an attorney, 14 years as District Court Judge Pro Tempore and currently serves as Superior Court Commissioner.

"As the only candidate with judicial experience in Superior and District Court, I have learned to ensure that I am prepared, patient, and respectful," said Sandberg in his statement.

Candidate Steve Martonick has operated a private practice for over 20 years in Whitman County representing adults and juveniles in criminal, injury and administrative cases.

"With a successful track record representing individuals and families before state agencies and courts of law, Steve has earned a reputation as a dedicated and effective advocate," states the Local Voter Pamphlet statement.

Running for Whitman County Commissioner Position 1, four year term, is Art Swannack, unopposed.

Tom Handy is running unopposed for Whitman County Commissioner Position 2, four year term.

There are four levies on the ballot this year, including Town of Farmington, the Town of Garfield and the Whitman County Fire Protection District No. 7.

Farmington has two propositions on the ballot. The first Proposition No. 1 Resolution 421-24 concerns financing street maintenance and repair. The proposition would authorize the town to collect an excess property tax levy upon all taxable property within the town in the amount of $18,000, estimated at $2.88 or less per $1,000 of assessed value in 2024 to be collected in 2025.

The Town Council of Farmington also has Proposition 2 on the ballot, Resolution 421-24, which is to finance the current expense fund for the town. The proposition would authorize the town to collect an excess property tax levy on all taxable property at $10,000, an estimated $1.60 or less per $1,00 of assessed value in 2024 to be collected in 2025.

The Town of Garfield has one proposition levy on the ballot, Proposition 1. The Town Council of Garfield adopted resolution 2024-03 to finance street maintenance, repair and improvements. The proposition would authorize the town to collect an excess property tax on all taxable property in the amount of $72,000, an estimated $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value in the year 2024, to collect in 2025.

Whitman County Fire Protection District No. 7 has one levy on the ballot. Proposition 1 is an Emergency Medical Services Property Tax levy authorizing to continue to fund emergency medical services by renewing a regular property tax levy of $.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a period of six consecutive years to be collected the beginning of 2025.

Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison said that all ballot boxes are now open, "As with every other election, a stamp is not required on the return envelope," she said.

All ballots must be postmarked by August 6, "My advice would be to mail it early," Jamison said, "Give the post office time to give it to us."

Jamison said that ballots are out and people should be receiving them. "If they don't receive them they should give the elections office a call," she said.

If voters would like to send their ballots by mail, Jamison said they should take it into their post office and get it hand-stamped so it is dated that day. "It gets put in the box and gets sent to Spokane and doesn't get stamped until the next day," Jamison said, adding that they honor hand stamped.

Jamison said that the Auditors office is getting calls with people wanting to know why the state and federal races are not in the Local Voter's Pamphlet. "It is cost prohibitive for us to do so, and it isn't required by the state for us to put state and federal candidates in our LVP," she said.

There is a website link on the front page of the Local Voter's Pamphlet where voters can go and read the biographies for all the candidates, Jamison said. "The state for many years has chosen not to print a state voters pamphlet for the state primary."

Jamison said that the site can also be accessed on the Whitman County website in the elections department. "For those that are frustrated by that, I share their frustration and they need to contact their legislators," she said, "This is a legislative decision."

This year, Jamison is excited to have been able to feature an elementary school student who was one of the winners of the 2024 Visual Arts Competition sponsored by the Pullman and Whitman County League of Women Voters on the front page of the Local Voter's Pamphlet. "I thought it was exciting to have an elementary student who got it on why we need to vote," she said, "it's never too early to learn about the voting process."

Jamison said that voters can register online and the last day to mail in is July 29. After July 29, voters have to physically come to the Auditors Office to register.

"The earlier you vote the better, because we will be periodically emptying boxes," Jamison said, "It really helps us if people vote early."

Ballot box locations in Colfax are at the Whitman County Elections office, 304 North Main Street and in the alley behind the elections office.

A ballot box can be found in front of the Oakesdale library, 103 South First Street and in St. John adjacent to the Northwest Grain Growers Office, 33. East Front Street.

In Pullman, ballot drop boxes can be found at Southeast Paradise Street, just outside Hinrich's Trading Company and Below the Rosauers sign in the parking lot, 1205 North Grand Avenue.

All drop boxes will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, August 6 .