Six Thurston judges 're-elected' without going on ballot

• Published June 12, 2008

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I’m sure some readers might think this is trickery. How, after all, do you get elected if your name is not on the ballot?

The Office of the Secretary of State assures us today that it’s the law in Washington. And it wasn’t changed by the new “top-two” primary election system, which only changed the rules for partisan offices.

“Those who filed and drew no opposition will be issued certificates of election immediately. …” agency spokesman David Ammons said this morning. “They don’t have to go to any ballot. The voter will never see them again.’’

Ammons was referring to Superior Court Judges Chris Wickham, Paula Casey, Tom McPhee, Richard Cork Hicks, Christine A. Pomeroy, and Anne Hirsch.

Thurston County elections officials could issue the certificates by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, the battle will continue for two other Superior Court seats. The position 7 race pits county prosecutor Ed Holm against Judge Gary Tabor, himself a former chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Position 3 features Charles Williams and Carol Murphy.

With Kevin L. Johnson deciding today to withdraw from the position 3 race, it makes it more likely that both of those races will be decided in the Aug. 19 primary. As I explained in an earlier post today, any candidate with 50 percent of the vote, plus one, moves on alone to the Nov. 4 ballot under state elections rules.