Primary ballots are in the mail

Published 7:00 am Saturday, September 2, 2006

The primary election is now in progress for the majority of Island County voters.

The Island County Auditor’s Office mailed out 29,726 ballots late this week. “They’ll be in the mail on Friday,” said Loann Gulick, elections officer.

This will be the second partisan primary since the courts threw out Washington’s traditional blanket primary. In a partisan primary, voters must select either a Democratic, Republican or nonpartisan ballot. No more switching between parties as voters could do for decades under the old blanket primary system.

“If you choose a partisan ballot it’s either Republican or Democrat,” Gulick said. Minor parties won’t appear on the primary ballot. Their candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Voters who don’t want to pick a party can select the nonpartisan ballot, but this ballot includes only nonpartisan races, such as judgeships and ballot measures.

Gulick said there should be no confusion. In the ballot envelope a bright green sheet announces this is a “pick a party” primary and gives voters instructions on how to proceed.

Approximately two-thirds of Island County’s 44,135 registered voters receive their ballots in the mail. For those who still go to the polls, election day will be Tuesday, Sept. 19.

For competitive interest, the Republican ballot dominates the primary election in Island County, particularly for Island County sheriff.

The three Republican sheriff candidates are Coupeville Town Marshal Lenny Marlborough, Island County Jail Administrator De Dennis, and retired Washington State Trooper Mark Brown. The only Democrat on the ballot, Jay Wallace, is unopposed.

The Republicans also offer primary competition in the race for Island County Assessor, where Daniel Jones and Don Mason are vying to see who will face Democrat Dave Mattens in November.

There is also primary competition for the Republican nod for U.S. Representative, Second District, to run against Democrat Rick Larsen in November. Doug Roulstone, the Republican party’s choice, was challenged by Arlington resident Terry Moats, who describes herself as a “pro-life candidate for Congress.”

No Island County Democrats on the primary ballot have a challenger within their own party.

The one issue that will be decided in the primary is the Whidbey Island Public Hospital District’s emergency services levy. The district is proposing a hike in the property tax assessment from the current 37 cents per thousand to 50 cents per thousand. This would allow purchasing more emergency services equipment, hiring more perso