4 spots left wanting as 2nd round of election filings ends

By the end of a second round of Clark County election filings Thursday afternoon, four positions had still failed to draw any candidates. Two seats on the Yacolt Town Council went lapsed, the Washougal school board still had an opening, and no one filed for a board seat in Woodland’s Cemetery District 5.

County elections officials held a special three-day filing period this week to attract candidates for 10 positions that garnered no interest during the regular filing week last month. As filing week ended on May 15, 115 candidates had signed up to run for 80 open positions across parts of Clark and Cowlitz counties in the November election.

Under state law, the county was required to hold another round of filings for those open positions. The registration window opened Tuesday morning and closed at 5 p.m. Thursday. Candidates could sign up in person at the Clark County Elections Department or online.

County Elections Supervisor Cathie Garber said it’s normal to have so many open spots after filing week. In fact, that’s often the case during special district elections, like this one, she said.

What’s next for the four spots that remain open? Garber said those positions will not appear on the general election ballot.

“The scheduled election for these positions shall be considered lapsed, the office stricken from the ballot, no purported write-in votes counted, and no candidate certified as elected,” Garber said in an email to The Columbian. “In such instance, the incumbent occupying such position shall remain in office and continue to serve until a successor is elected at the next election when such positions are voted upon.”

The next election for the open positions will be in 2017. In the meantime, local jurisdictions may appoint people to fill those roles, Garber said.

To see the full list of candidates who’ve filed for the upcoming election, visit clarkvotes.org.

This year’s primary election is Aug. 4, with ballots in the mail in approximately four weeks. The general election is Nov. 3.