Challengers for 16th District seat getting in line

Republicans already are lining up to challenge whichever Democrat is named to fill the 16th District seat left open by the death of Bill Grant in January.

Dayton lawyer Terry Nealey, who failed to unseat Grant in November, and Walla Walla County Commissioner Greg Tompkins both have announced their intentions to run for the seat this fall. That's when the person appointed to replace Grant will have to run to finish the remainder of his term.

Grant was re-elected in November, but announced in December that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. He intended to return to the Legislature but died Jan. 4, just over a week before the current session began.

Democratic leaders in the 16th District picked lawyer George Fearing, who lives in Pasco, as their top choice to replace Grant at a meeting Saturday. The two other possible replacements are Pasco Councilwoman Rebecca Francik and Grant's daughter, Laura Grant-Herriot.

County commissioners from Walla Walla, Franklin, Benton and Columbia counties will meet Feb. 20 to choose Grant's replacement from those three nominees.

Tompkins has recused himself from the vote because of his intention to run for the seat this fall.

"I believe this is the proper thing to do since the appointee may seek to run as well in the next general election," he said in a written statement.

Some have questioned whether Grant's replacement would run this year or serve the entire two-year term. Officials from the Secretary of State's Office have interpreted the law to require an election this year.

Nealey, 62, said it's unfortunate Grant died so soon after the last election, but he believes the vacancy presented an opportunity to bring change to the district.

Grant won 27,648 votes, or about 54 percent, in his re-election bid in November. Nealey picked up 23,673 votes, or 46 percent. He said he thought he had earned enough name recognition in the district to make another go this year.

"I felt I connected with the voters very well," said Nealey, a one-time Columbia County prosecutor.

He also believes he brings a different perspective to the district coming from one of the smaller rural towns. "I can see the whole district and the need to represent the entire district," he said. "That's my perspective."

Tompkins, who is serving his second term as a Walla Walla County commissioner, said he was encouraged by local leaders to seek the seat.

"I am running for the Legislature because we need proven leaders in Olympia who bring pragmatic problem-solving to the seat," he said.

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