Ballots due Tuesday; county exec and other offices at stake

EVERETT — A five-way race for Snohomish County executive tops the ballot in the primary election that ends Tuesday night.

Democratic Snohomish County Executive John Lovick is bidding for a full term and faces four challengers including another high-profile Democrat.

County Council Chairman Dave Somers, that Democrat, is also the best known of the opponents. The other candidates are Republicans Robert Sutherland and Norm Nunnally and James Robert Deal, who gave no party preference though he ran as Democrat against Lovick last year.

The top two vote-getters from Tuesday’s primary will advance to the general election Nov. 3, regardless of political affiliation.

Ballots in the all-mail election must be turned in or postmarked by Tuesday to be valid.

Voted ballots can be put in one of the 11 drop boxes scattered around Snohomish County until 8 p.m. Election Day. These do not require postage.

Ballots also can be dropped off at the County Auditor’s Office until 8 p.m. It is located, on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.

As of Monday morning, 58,369 ballots had been returned, representing a 13.9 percent of the roughly 421,500 ballots mailed out.

The race for county executive is the only countywide contest on the ballot.

Voters in several cities are narrowing the field of candidates in council races.

In Everett, incumbent Councilman Ron Gipson, who has been on the council for 20 years, faces two opponents, Cassie Franklin and Vic Paul.

Fellow incumbent Councilman Scott Bader is seeking his first full term since winning a special election in 2012. He is being challenged by Charlene Rawson and Joshua Petersen.

There also is competition for seats on the city councils of Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Mukilteo and Bothell.

Also, in Snohomish, voters will decide the fate of a measure to establish the Metropolitan Park District. If approved, city leaders would be able, in the future, to raise money for recreation programs and park improvements.

The location of the ballot drop boxes can found online at snoco.org/elections.

If you have a question about your ballot or the election, call 425-388-3444.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.