Independent joins list of short-term candidates

An independent candidate has joined a group of Democrats in the race for a one-month stint in Congress.

Independent Bob Champion, of Mukilteo, filed Wednesday for the vacant position in the old 1st Congressional District.

He joins Democrats J. Byron Holcomb, of Bainbridge Island, and Brian Berry, a Boeing software test manager who lives in Lake Forest Park but has a Kenmore post office box; both filed early in the week; 32nd Legislative District Democratic chairwoman Carin Chase has said that she plans to file.

Meanwhile, former Lynnwood City Councilwoman Lisa Utter is gathering signatures to qualify for the ballot. Utter, like three others, would run as a Democrat. She needs to gather 1,740 signatures by Friday afternoon. If not, she’ll have to decide whether to pay the $1,740 filing fee.

They will run for the last month of Jay Inslee’s term in the old 1st Congressional District.

The position has been vacant since Inslee resigned to run for governor.

No Republican has expressed an interest in the position.

In other years the person elected in November would take the position right after certification of the election, but redistricting has put part of the old 1st District into the 2nd District, part into the 7th District, part into the 6th District and part into the new 1st District.

None of the five is a candidate in his or her new district.

Ballots in Edmonds and Woodway will have contests for both the old 1st District and new 7th District. Ballots in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Brier will have races for both the old 1st District and new 2nd District.

The filing period continues through Friday at 5 p.m.

The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 7 primary advance to the Nov. 6 general election regardless of party.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.