The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Voters will decide on about 30 positions up for election in the 2021 elections for local town councils, school boards, and more.

The primary elections will take place in August, while the general election will take place in November. 

Grand Coulee

Three seats on the Grand Coulee City Council are up for reelection this year, all to four-year terms.

Three candidates have filed their intentions to seek Council Position #1, currently held by Tammara Byers who is not running for reelection. The candidates who have filed are: Ben Hughes, Tracey Wright, and Frank Jones.

The two candidates who have filed for Council Position #2 are incumbent Tom Poplawski and Cameron Whitney.

For Council Position #4, incumbent Mike Horne is the only candidate who has filed.  

Coulee Dam

Positions up for election in Coulee Dam include the mayor’s position, currently held by Bob Poch; Council Position #1, currently vacant; Position #2, currently held by Merv Schmidt; Position #3, currently held by Dale Rey; and Position #4, currently held by Larry Hall.

All of these positions are for four-year terms except for Position #4 which is for a two-year term. 

With no challengers, Poch, Schmidt, and Hall have all filed for reelection, while no candidates have filed for Position #1 or Position #3. 

Electric City

In Electric City, the mayoral position currently held by Diane Kohout; Council Position #1, currently vacant; and Position #2, currently held by Bob Rupe, are all up for election for four-year terms.

Kohout and Rupe are the only candidates who have filed for their positions, while two candidates have filed for Position #1: Donald Redfield and Birdie Hensley. 

Elmer City

Elmer City has four positions up for election this year, including the mayoral position currently held by Jesse Tillman; Council Position #1, currently held by Michael Humiston; Position #2, currently held by William Dunlap; and Position #3, currently held by Clara Carson.

Only the incumbents have filed for these positions. 

All of these positions are for four-year terms. 

Grand Coulee Dam School District #301J

The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors has three positions up for election to four-year terms. For Position #1, the only person who has filed as a candidate is Shannon Claire Nicholson. Incumbent Carla Marconi has not filed for reelection. For Position #2, the two candidates who have filed are incumbent Ken “Butch” Stanger and Buffy Nicholson. For Position #5, incumbent Rich Black is the only candidate who has filed. 

Nespelem School District #14

The Nespelem School District Board of Directors has three positions up for election. For Position #3, incumbent Jolene Marchand is the only candidate who has filed; For Position #4, incumbent Jarae Cate is the only candidate; and for Position #5, incumbent Nancy Armstrong-Montes is being challenged by candidates Patrick Morin, Jr., and Val Vargas-Thomas. 

Coulee Area Parks and Recreation District

The Coulee Area Parks and Recreation District has one position up for election, Position #4 currently held by Chairman Kevin Portch, who has not filed for reelection. The only candidate who has filed for that position is Tristan Goss.

Hospital District #6 - CMC

Coulee Medical Center’s hospital district has a single commissioner spot up for election, Position #2, currently held by Clea Pryor, who is the only candidate who has filed for the position. 

Grant County Port District #7 -

GCD Airport Port District #7 manages the Grand Coulee Dam Airport and the Banks Lake Golf Course. Its commissioner Position #1, currently held by Jim Keene, is up for election to a six-year term, with Keene being the only one who has filed for the position. 

Grant County Fire District #14 has a two-year term for Position #1 up for election, with Deborah Nelson being the only candidate who has filed.  

Okanogan County Fire District #2 has three positions up for for election to six-year terms: Position #1, currently held by Lloyd Olbricht; Position #2 currently held by Shelly Black; and Position #3 which lists no incumbent.

Black is the only candidate who has filed, with no candidates listed for the other two positions. 

Lincoln County Fire District #9 has two positions up election to six-year terms for Position #2, currently held by Ron Rosenberg; and Position #3 currently held by Richard W. Coffland.

Rosenberg is the only candidate listed for Position #2, while no candidates are listed for Position #3.