It’s an off-year for legislative-congressional-statewide elections — blessed be our ears!– but a number of counties will be picking state legislators to fill unexpired vacancies. Two beloved members of the House died after being re-elected last fall — Democrat Bill Grant of the 16th District and Republican Steve Hailey in the 9th — and a third state representative, 15th District Republican Dan Newhouse, was appointed agriculture director by the Democratic governor.

Successors were chosen by county commissioners in the 9th and 16th — former Rep. Don Cox (above left) returning to Oly to fill in for Hailey and Grant’s daughter, Laura Grant-Herriot (lower left), replacing her dad.  (Photos courtesy of House Photography.)  The Newhouse replacement has not been tapped yet.  Under state law, the three seats will be on the ballot later this year so voters can directly choose a lawmaker for the remaining year in the term.

The state Elections Division says candidates can line up during the regularly scheduled Filing Week, June 1-5.  If only one or two people file, there will be no primary for that office and the race will skip to the General Election on November 3.  If more than two people file, there will be a Top 2 Primary on August 18 and the two most popular will advance to main event.

For a look at open offices, click here.