Local News

You Don't Want to Skip the Primary This Year.

By NCBI
Jun 27, 2012

The very important primary election, which will determine the final results in many judicial races, will be held on August 7.

Why is the primary election especially important for choosing judges?

Judicial positions are nonpartisan. Therefore, unlike candidates running for legislative or executive offices, judicial candidates are not competing in the primary to be a political party's candidate on the general election ballot in November. For many judicial positions, the "primary" election is the determinative event.

In elections for Superior Court, contested positions generally appear on the primary ballot. If a judicial candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the primary, that candidate will appear on the November ballot without opposition; the primary will effectively determine the final outcome.

Most Superior Court positions throughout Washington are up for election this year, and both Superior Court positions in Okanogan County are up for election.

Position number one, currently held by retiring Judge Jack Burchard, has drawn two candidates, Hank Rawson and Karl Sloan. If either candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in August, his name alone will appear on the November ballot.

Position number two has drawn only one candidate, incumbent Judge Chris Culp.

Superior Court judges are elected to four-year terms.

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