Lynette Vehrs, Mike Volz will vie for Rep. Kevin Parker’s seat in November

In the race to replace state Rep. Kevin Parker, voters in November will be able to choose a retired nurse or Spokane County’s chief deputy treasurer.

Democrat Lynette Vehrs topped four other candidates in Tuesday’s primary with 44 percent of the vote to easily move to the general election. Joining her on the ballot will be Republican Mike Volz, the chief deputy county treasurer, who took 29 percent.

“We exceeded our goals,” Vehrs said. “We can focus a little more on what our issues are, now that we know our opponent.”

Ian Field, a 26-year-old legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, came in a distant third. He was endorsed by McMorris Rodgers and Parker.

Field had a significant fundraising lead into the November election, but won only 18 percent.

Vehrs, a retired nurse who has worked with legislators as a policy adviser for the Washington State Nurses Association, has said she’ll focus on health care policy if elected. This is her first run for elected office.

Volz has said he will remain the deputy treasurer for Spokane County if elected to serve in Olympia.

In interviews prior to the election, the former Spokane Transit Authority assistant director of finance said he’d focus on fiscal policy.

In Legislative District 3, which covers central Spokane, incumbent Democrat Timm Ormsby cruised to a first-place finish over Republican Laura Carder, who also will advance to the November ballot. Libertarian Paul Delaney came in third.

In the district that covers southeastern Washington, incumbent Republican Rep. Mary Dye topped two challengers. She will face second-place finisher Democrat Jennifer Goulet in November.