S-3796.2  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6171

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

 

By Senators Oke, Haugen, McCaslin and Winsley

 

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

 

Eliminating primary elections for certain special purpose district commissioners.



    AN ACT Relating to special purpose district elections; and amending RCW 29.21.015, 36.69.090, 68.52.140, and 68.52.155.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.21.015 and 1990 c 59 s 90 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) No primary may be held for any single position in any city, town, or district, as required by RCW 29.21.010, if, after the last day allowed for candidates to withdraw, there are no more than two candidates filed for the position.  The county auditor shall, as soon as possible, notify all the candidates so affected that the office for which they filed will not appear on the primary ballot.

    (2) No primary may be held for the office of commissioner of a park and recreation district or for the office of cemetery district commissioner.

    (3) Names of candidates ((so notified)) for offices that do not appear on the primary ballot shall be printed upon the general election ballot in the manner specified by RCW 29.30.025.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 36.69.090 and 1994 c 223 s 45 are each amended to read as follows:

    A park and recreation district shall be governed by a board of five commissioners.  Except for the initial commissioners, all commissioners shall be elected to staggered four-year terms of office and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Candidates shall run for specific commissioner positions.

    Elections for park and recreation district commissioners shall be held biennially in conjunction with the general election in each odd-numbered year.  Elections shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Title 29 RCW dealing with general elections, except that there shall be no primary to nominate candidates.  All persons filing and qualifying shall appear on the general election ballot and the person receiving the largest number of votes for each position shall be elected.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 68.52.140 and 1994 c 223 s 75 are each amended to read as follows:

    The county legislative authority shall have full authority to hear and determine the petition, and if it finds that the formation of the district will be conducive to the public welfare and convenience, it shall by resolution so declare, otherwise it shall deny the petition.  If the county legislative authority finds in favor of the formation of the district, it shall designate the name and number of the district, fix the boundaries thereof, and cause an election to be held therein for the purpose of determining whether or not the district shall be organized under the provisions of this chapter, and for the purpose of electing its first cemetery district commissioners.  At the same election three cemetery district commissioners shall be elected, but the election of the commissioners shall be null and void if the district is not created.  No primary shall be held for the office of cemetery district commissioner.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  Candidates shall run for specific commissioner positions.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each commissioner position shall be elected to that commissioner position.  The terms of office of the initial commissioners shall be as provided in RCW 68.52.220.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 68.52.155 and 1994 c 223 s 73 are each amended to read as follows:

    Cemetery district elections shall conform with general election laws, except that there shall be no primary to nominate candidates.  All persons filing and qualifying shall appear on the general election ballot and the person receiving the largest number of votes for each position shall be elected.

    A vacancy on a board of cemetery district commissioners shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

 


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