HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. SSB 6489

No primary/dist. court position/two candidates filed Hrg Date:  2/18/98

Brief Title

Senators  McCaslin/Long                                       Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The use of primaries in the process of electing persons to nonpartisan offices varies.

A primary is always held as part of the process to elect persons to all judicial offices, even when only one person files a declaration of candidacy for the office.  However, if only one person files a declaration of candidacy for the office of a superior court judge in a county with a population of 100,000 or more, no primary or election is held and a certificate of election is issued to that person.

A primary is held as part of the process to elect persons to all other local government nonpartisan offices, only if three or more persons file declarations of candidacy for the office.  However, a primary is never held as part of the process to elect persons as cemetery district commissioners or park and recreation district commissioners, no matter how many persons file declarations of candidacy for the office.

SUMMARY:

The process to elect persons as district court judges is altered.

The new process to elect persons as district court judges conforms with the standard process of electing persons to non-judicial local government nonpartisan offices, where a primary is held only if three or more persons file declarations of candidacy for the position.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.