County opens filing period for unclaimed seats

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Since no one is running for 12 elected positions in Yakima County, a special three-day filing period will open Wednesday.

Under state law, special filing periods are opened when no candidates file to run for office during the regular filing period. Positions are currently open on city councils, school boards, fire district boards, and in a sewer district.

Open positions are:

* Naches City Council,
Position 3

* Toppenish City Council, Positions 4 and 7

* Wapato City Council, Position 6

* Granger School District, District 5

* Mt. Adams School District, District 5

* Fire Protection District 11, Position 3

* Cowiche Sewer District, Positions 1, 2 and 3

* Naches Park & Recreation Commissioner, Districts 3 and 5

Several positions will also be open for filings because of recent vacancies, plus there are commissioner openings for a proposed fire district in the White Pass area. Those include:

* Mabton School District, District 1

* Fire Protection District 5, Position 1

* Proposed Fire Protection District 15, Positions 1, 2 and 3

The proposed fire district would stretch from the intersection of State Route 410 and U.S. Highway 12 to Clear Lake. The new district would create a property tax, allowing the district to contract for fire protection from the nearby Naches Fire District. Only registered voters living in the White Pass area may vote on the positions as well as the proposed district in the November general election.

Candidates who file during the special filing period will appear on the General Election ballot only. Ballots will be available beginning Oct. 14. Elections will be held Nov. 3.

For further information, contact the Yakima County Elections Division at 509-574-1340. To file for candidacy, visit the Yakima County Auditor's Office at 28 N. Second St., Room 117, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.