Want to be governor? Filing week starts Monday

With the state’s executive branch and much of its legislative and judicial branches up for election this year, filing week figures to be especially busy at the Secretary of State’s Office.

Starting Monday (May 16), candidates can file for 346 open elected positions throughout the state. Filing closes at end of business Friday.

This fall, voters will elect a governor and eight other statewide executives, three state Supreme Court justices, 10 U.S. House members and a U.S. senator. They also will decide 98 state House and 26 state Senate seats.

Candidates for the 90 positions that stretch across more than one county must file with the secretary of state. Candidates for other positions submit their forms to county auditors offices. In Pierce County, officials will take filings for 41 open positions. Thurston County will handle 14 positions.

Among the positions up for election in Pierce County are the county executive, treasurer and sheriff, and four County Council positions and 22 Superior Court judgeships.

Thurston County has two County Commission seats, a utility district commissioner seat and eight Superior Court judgeships.

Candidates can file online, by mail or in person for their positions.

“We expect a bumper crop of high-quality candidates and some lively campaigns, hotly contested in many cases,” Secretary of State Kim Wyman said in a news release. “Along with the presidential race and ballot propositions, it will be a feast for voters. I expect a very robust turnout.”

The filing fee is 1 percent of the salary of the position sought.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Want to be governor? Filing week starts Monday."