Rob Chase, a Libertarian turned Republican party activist, is running for Spokane County treasurer as a write-in candidate.

Chase said Tuesday he is entering the race against incumbent Skip Chilberg, a Democrat, because the job is too important to go uncontested. He describes himself as a "Realtor, local talk show host and champion of open and  honest government."

Chase is no stranger to campaigns, although his previous ones have been more conventional runs in which he filed before the candidate deadline. He unsuccessfully ran for the state Senate in 2000 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, both times as a Libertarian. In 2008, he supported another sometime Libertarian, Ron Paul, in the Texas Congressman's run for the Republican presidential nomination. He's now a 4th Legislative District leader for the Spokane County Republican Party.

Voters will have to fill in an oval and write his name in the space on the ballot for the treasurer's position. If he gets at least 1 percent of the votes cast, his name will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot along with Chilberg.

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