State legislative district has changed for Columbia County voters

DAYTON— In February, Washington State legislators adopted a new congressional and legislative map, removing Columbia County from Legislative District 16 and placing it in Legislative District 9, with Franklin, Adams, Spokane, Whitman, Asotin, and Garfield counties.

Columbia County voters will be asked to return incumbents Rep. Mary Dye (R) Pomeroy and Rep. Joe Schmick (R) Colfax to the state legislature next January. Both Dye and Schmick are running unopposed for the following two-year terms.

Columbia County remains in U.S. Congressional District 5, with Walla Walla, Lincoln, Ferry, Stevens, Spokane, Pend Oreille, Whitman, Adams, Asotin, Garfield, and Franklin counties.

Redistricting was accomplished by the Washington State Redistricting Commission using data from the 2020 census, which reflected the need to rebalance shifts in population to ensure equal representation across the state.

This year, all elected offices in Columbia County, except for District 1 and District 2 positions on the Board of Columbia County Commissioners, are up for election.

County Auditor Anne Higgins, County Treasurer Carla Rowe, County Prosecutor Dale Slack, County Clerk Kriston Chapman, and Tammy Ketterman for County Assessor will appear on the primary election ballot. They have filed for reelection to four-year terms and are running unopposed. Kimberly Boggs for District Court Judge will advance straight to the general election.

Deputy Jeff Jenkins has filed as a candidate running against Sheriff Joe Helm for a four-year term in the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. This is Jenkins’s second bid for the sheriff’s office, running against Helm in the 2018 election.

Retired farmer Jack Miller is running against the incumbent Chuck Amerein for a four-year term on the Board of County Commissioners in District 3.

A list of filings for all federal, state, and judicial positions impacting voters in Columbia County, can be found on the Washington Secretary of State website at secretaryofstate@sos.wa.gov>elections>candidates who have filed.