YAKIMA, Wash. -- Barring a surprise candidate, the field appears set for the Yakima Valley’s only state legislative race this fall.

Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, a midsession appointee, will run to keep his 15th District state House seat. And two Democrats — John Gotts of White Salmon and Donicio Marichalar of Grandview — will challenge him. With less than three hours remaining in the candidate filing period, there were no other candidates.

The man formally nominated by the 15th District Democrats last month, Rey Pascua, said today he will not run.
The seat is up for election this year because Dan Newhouse, who was re-elected to it last year, left to take the helm of the state Department of Agriculture.

At the end of March, commissioners from the district’s four counties appointed Taylor as his replacement. The seat will be up for election again next year for a full term.

- Pat Muir