The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - State Representative Terry Nealey, Republican of Dayton, will face an opponent for his seat representing the 16th legislative district on the November general election ballot. Frank Blair, of Kennewick, received enough votes as a write-in candidate to qualify.

According to the Washington State Secretary of State's Office, Blair received 283 writein votes compared to nearly 19,000 votes for Nealey. State law requires that a write-in candidate receive at least one percent of the total votes cast in a primary race - and also be one of the top two vote-getters - in order for his or her name to be placed on the general election ballot. Nealey was running unopposed on the primary ballot.

Blair filed as a writein with the secretary of state's office in July, stating his party preference as Democrat.