Out-of-state Democrat to face GOP incumbent in 15th District

YAKIMA, Wash. -- State Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, will have a man in California to thank for his likely victory this November.

As widely expected, the Republican was drawing 65 percent of the primary vote in his quest to retain a state House seat in the 15th District. But it was the Democratic side of the ballot that had state election officials chuckling.

Democrat John Gotts, 42, pulled out of the race two months ago after deciding to move out of state for a job. Nonetheless, he was one of the top two vote-getters in the 15th District primary race.

The Internet entrepreneur was running comfortably ahead of fellow Democrat Donicio Marichalar of Grandview in primary returns — in three of the four counties that comprise the 15th District, Yakima, Klickitat and Skamania counties. Marichalar was drawing more Democratic votes in Clark County.

Gotts was living in White Salmon when he announced his candidacy but withdrew from the race in June, saying he was moving to California to pursue a business venture. It wasn’t soon enough, however, to have his name removed from the primary ballot.

And, according to Washington Secretary of State spokesman David Ammons, Gotts’ name will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. His office checked the voter rolls and found he is still a registered voter in White Salmon and, therefore, a legitimate candidate for office.

“Just because he suspended campaigning, that didn’t stop him from being a candidate, and just because he went to California to do business, that didn’t cancel his residency,” Ammons said. “There’s no way to bump him off the ballot.”

Technically, Gotts could return to the 15th District and start campaigning for the general election, Ammons said, though that would probably prompt questions about his voter residency.

Given the district’s conservative tilt, there’s little expectation any Democrat would have much chance of winning. So one might expect Taylor, a 37-year-old rancher and agriculture consultant who was appointed to the seat in March, to start celebrating now — particularly since his general election opponent is living hundreds of miles away.

But Taylor said he’s not taking victory for granted. He was a little baffled himself as to what Gotts’ standing is in the race.

“I have no idea. I don’t know how to read that one at all,” he said in an interview. “Regardless of the opponent, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, stay out in front of people and keep campaigning.”

County commissioners from the four counties that comprise the sprawling 15th District selected Taylor to fill the vacancy left by Dan Newhouse when he moved on to run the state Department of Agriculture.

Taylor, a former planning director in Kittitas County, has raised more than $33,000 and geared much of his campaign against Marichalar, who has been actively campaigning.

While Taylor honed a message around keeping taxes low and reining in government, Marichalar, a 41-year-old former supervisor at the state Department of Social and Health Services, said he wanted to tackle social issues and increase education funding.

Neither Marichalar nor Gotts raised any contributions, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

* Herald-Republic reporter Phil Ferolito contributed to this report.