Good time to run for public office

If you’ve every wanted to run for public office, there isn’t a better time than now.  In Thurston County there are 72 public offices up for election this year ranging from port commission to  cemetery commission and every thing in-between.

Lacey has four council seats on the ballot this year.  Olympia, Tumwater and Yelm all have five seats up.  Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater have school board seats and the list goes on and on.

In Washington state, Odd number calendar years are for local and municipal elections.  I believe that all of them are non-partisan.

Most of the positions pay nothing but some of the city council and port seats pay a stipend.  For many there is no filing fee.  If there is a filing fee it is one percent of the annual remuneration usually around $100 to $200. An exception is municipal court judge in Olympia which pays more than $180,000 and the filing fee is $1800. If you’re going to run for that seat it helps to be an attorney.

In some school board elections, you have to live in a particular school area to run for the seat.

Many of our current elected officials holding higher elective office got their start in local elections.  The one that comes most readily to mind is State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who started on on the North Thurston School Board and went on to be elected to the state legislature and then on to congress.

Filing period for all 72 seats up this year begins on May 3 with on-line and mail-in application.  In person registration is at the Thurston County Auditors office from May 17 to 21,

If you need help, go to Thurstonvotes.org.  The auditor’s office is very helpful if you need more help.