Two write-in candidates make November ballot in Spokane County

Two write-in candidates on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot in Spokane County have qualified to have their names listed on the November ballot.

The county’s election canvassing board certified the results on Tuesday.

Mary M. Wissink, a Democrat, received 1,939 write-in votes in her effort to take on Republican Timothy W. Fitzgerald, who was appointed county clerk to replace outgoing clerk Thomas Fallquist earlier this year.

Fallquist served as clerk of Spokane County Superior Court for 32 years. He stepped down in February for medical reasons.

In another write-in candidacy, Ziggy Siegfried, a Democrat, received 513 votes in his effort to get on the ballot against incumbent Republican Jeff Holy in a 6th Legislative District House race for position 2.

State law requires that write-in candidates receive a minimum of 1 percent of votes cast in the primary in that race to qualify to have their names listed on the general election ballot.

Wissink had 1.96 percent. Siegfried had 1.56 percent.

In all, the county tallied up 99,177 ballots in the primary for a turnout of 35.29 percent.

There were two relatively close races for positions in the county courthouse.

County Commissioner Al French, a Republican seeking re-election, had 10,811 votes. He was followed by Mary Lou Johnson, a Democrat, with 10,589 votes. Former Democratic County Commissioner Bonnie Mager trailed with 8,021 votes. Mager ran as an independent this year.

Only voters in French’s Commissioner District 3 were able vote in the primary. Voters countywide will decide the general election between French and Johnson.

In the race for county treasurer, incumbent Republican Rob Chase had 37,771 votes. He was followed by Democrat Amy Biviano at 36,501 votes. Both move to the general election ballot. Trailing in that race was Republican Mary Kuney with 19,632 votes.