Candidate filing a matter of timing

Published 3:16 pm Thursday, May 17, 2012

Once a year over a five-day period, the county auditors accept the forms that candidates file for office for all the elected positions in the state. Drew Nielsen died the weekend before candidate filing week. Because the office was obviously vacated, and an election is eventually required, there was no way they could justify not accepting applications for Drew Nielsen’s office as well, so that it would make it into the 2012 primary and general elections.

Because “Everett’s charter dictates the position be filled this year,” they really had no choice. Due to the short notice, it would be kind to extend the filing period for possible candidates who may be out of town and not be aware of the opening, but state and local laws may prohibit that.

Jean DeWitt

Mill Creek