Ballots for Nov. 3 elections in the mail

By Gary DeVon • October 23, 2015 3:42 pm

Parks & Rec District, council and school board positions up for vote

OKANOGAN COUNTY – The county auditor’s office mailed out ballots on Friday, Oct. 16 for the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election, according to election official Mila Jury, with the auditor’s office.

This election sees an important issue for Tonasket area residents wishing to see a new pool built and maintained there. The proposition seeks to create a Tonasket Park and Recreation District that if approved would allow the district to tax people within the district to “provide leisure time activities and recreational facilities.” If it is created the district would be authorized to impose regular property tax levies of 15 cents or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation on all property located within the Tonasket Park and Recreation District for each of five consecutive years to provide a means of both maintaining a community swimming pool and maintaining existing Tonasket City Parks.

The district would be governed by a newly elected five member board. The ballot also asks voters within the district’s boundaries, both inside and outside of Tonasket city limits, to vote for the new board members. In positions 1 through 3, the seats are all unopposed and the candidates are: Kathleen Thompson, Billie Kay Attwood and Jordon Weddle, respectively. In position 4, the voters are asked to choose between Tyler Graves and Shawn E. Brazil, while in position 5, they are asked to choose between Michael Ward and David Stangland.

Oroville City Council

The City of Oroville has three council positions up for election in November, all for four-year terms. In Council Position 3, currently held by Ed Naillon, who has decided not to seek another term, David “Mac” McElheran and Robert Fuchs are looking to serve. McElheran works for the U.S. Border Patrol and Fuchs for Hughes Department Store. Walter A. Hart III is also on the ballot. The incumbent is running unopposed for another term in Position 4. Incumbent Neysa Roley faces a challenge from Chris Allen, a one time candidate for Oroville mayor in the 2013 General Election.

Oroville School Board

While Todd Hill and Mike Egerton running unopposed for a return to Oroville School Board in Director Positions 1 and 4, the board also sees some wrangling over directors’ positions. Perhaps the hottest race is between incumbent Rocky DeVon, the current board president and owner of RE/Max Lake & Country, and Ryan Frazier, a former Oroville Social Studies teacher, for Director Position 5. Kolo Moser, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and Becky Lewis are running for Director Position, the seat being vacated by longtime board member Amy Wise.

Tonasket City Council

In Tonasket all the seats on the council up for election have single candidates – Jensen Sackman, Position 2; Maria Moreno, Position 4 and incumbent Claire Jeffko, Position 5. Sackman and Jeffko will be running for four year terms and Moreno for a four year short and full term.

Tonasket School Board.

Catherine Stangland, the current school board chairwoman, seeks another four year term in Position 2, as does incumbent Jerry D. Asmussen for Position 5. Joyce Fancher, a former Tonasket teacher who has held office in the past as a city councilwoman and school board member, looks to unseat the incumbent, Ty Olson, for Position 4, also a four year term.

Other Offices

Herbert Wandler will find himself back on the board for Hospital District 4. The current North Valley Hospital District Commissioner is running unopposed for another six-year term in Position 3. Candidates for other offices include: Gary Nelson, Cemetery District 4 (Riverview, Oroville); Kenneth D. Ripley, Commissioner Position 3 for Fire District 1 (Oroville, Rural); Duane Van Woert and Jack Denison, for Commissioner Positions 2 and 3 respectively, for Fire District 4 (Tonasket area), Mark Robanske for Position 3, for Fire District 12 ( Swanson Mill); Michael Woelke and Robert K. Bauer, for Commissioner Positions 2 and 3 respectively, for Fire District 16 (Aeneas Valley) and Guy D. Fisher, Leland “Lee” Chapman and Mike Cantwell, for Commisioner Positions 1, 2 and 3, respectively for the Lake Osoyoos Water District.

Casting Ballots

All ballots must be signed to count, according to elections Deput Jury, who adds that anyone that has not received their ballot by Friday, Oct. 23 should contact the auditors office at 509-422-7240. The office is located at 149 3rd, Ave. N. in the Okanogan County Courthouse. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Election Day only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the following services.

  • Voter Registration
  • Drop off voted ballots
  • Obtain replacement ballots
  • Disability Access Voting Units

The county has three ballot drop boxes and they will be open Oct. 16 to Nov 3, 2015. Drop boxes will be open until 8:00 PM on Nov. 3, 2015.

Drop box locations:

  • Tonasket – Tonasket City Hall/Library Complex, 209 S Whitcomb Ave, Tonasket
  • Omak – Next to Police Station, 8 N Ash, Omak
  • Pateros -180 Pateros Mall in parking lot, Pateros

If you mail your ballot, sufficient first class postage must be attached and it must be postmarked by the day of the election, Nov. 3, 2015. Jury advises voters to check with your local post office for cut off times.

Voters not currently registered in the State of Washington can appear in person in the auditor’s office until Monday, Octo, 26, 2015 and register to vote and be able to vote in the General Election.

Those with questions may contact the auditor’s office at 509-422-7240.