Whitman County candidates scramble to file by deadline

Two Pullman City Council races will be contested this fall, while the incumbent mayor will run unopposed.

Friday was the deadline for candidates in Whitman County to file for election.

Francis Benjamin, formerly the Pullman council’s longest-standing member until he was defeated in 2015 by now councilor Ann Parks, will run against Eileen Macoll for an at-large position. Chris Johnson will run against Ann Parks to represent Ward 1.

Incumbents Nathan Weller and Pat Wright are running unopposed for city council representing Ward 2 and Ward 3, respectively.

Glenn Johnson does not have any challenger for the mayor position. Johnson has served as Pullman’s mayor since 2004. He told the Daily News last week this will be his final term.

Two other incumbent mayors in Whitman County will be replaced.

Chris Cook and William Perry will run against each other for the Palouse mayor position as current mayor Michael Echanove will retire after his current term ends.

Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek is also stepping down after this year and will likely be replaced by James Retzer, the only candidate running for mayor.

Pullman School Board incumbents Susan Weed, Allison Munch-Rotolo and James Evermann are all running for another term. The only challenger for the school board, Beth Ficklin, will take on Weed for the four-year District 1 term.

Incumbent Jerry Weber will run again for Colton mayor.

Uniontown will have challengers in three of its four town council races. John Jacobs will run against Mike Shore, Jonathan Musson will challenge Jack Espy and Ray Heitstuman will run against Sam Kimble.

Among the 209 open offices, there are still dozens of positions that do not have a candidate filed. Notably, the Palouse City Council, Palouse School District, Colfax School District and Whitman County Fire Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11 and 14 all have one position where no candidate has filed.

There are also seven fire district commissioner positions without candidates. James Brickey is taking on incumbent Roger McKeirnan for Whitman County Fire District 12 commissioner in Pullman.

Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison said if no candidates file for an election race, the entity can appoint a resident who is interested in that position.

Whoever is appointed will have to run in the next election in two years to maintain the seat.

The county can also extend the filing period to May 21-23.

Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4640, or by email to akuipers@dnews.com.