The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA - Three candidates filed for election last week to replace outgoing Walla Walla County Commissioner Greg Thompkins. Stephen Ames and Jim Duncan both stated a preference for the Republican Party, while Dale Johnson filed as an independent.

Ames is a former Walla Walla County Coroner, and Duncan is currently the County's Emergency Management Director. Johnson is a former College Place and Walla Walla County planning commissioner.

Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner will also be in a three-way race as he attempts his first run for re-election. Two current officers in his department, Sheriff 's Sergeant Barry Blackman and Sheriff 's Sergeant Tom Cooper, have filed to run against Turner. All three candidates stated a preference for the Republican Party.

For the Walla Walla County Coroner position, incumbent Richard Greenwood will face former Coroner Frank Brown, whom Greenwood replaced in 2011. Also filing was Derek Hayden. All three prefer the Republicans.

In another contested race, incumbent Walla Walla County Auditor Karen Martin will face a challenge from Walla Wallan Mark Spinks. Both filed as Republicans.

With the exception of two district court judge positions, all of the incumbents in the open positions in Walla Walla County filed for re-election and will run unopposed.

Two non-partisan Walla Walla County District Court Judge positions are open this year - one full-time and one part-time. The two incumbents in those jobs filed for each other's positions. Judge John Knowlton filed for the part-time position currently held by Judge Kristian Hedine. Hedine, in turn, filed for the full-time position that Knowlton now holds.

A complete list of open offices and candidates filed is shown on Page 2.