BILL REQ. #:  S-0275.1 

Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to election of prosecuting attorneys; and amending RCW 29A.04.110, 29A.52.111, and 29A.52.231.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.04.110 and 2005 c 2 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Partisan office" means a public office for which a candidate may indicate a political party preference on his or her declaration of candidacy and have that preference appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name. The following are partisan offices:
     (1) United States senator and United States representative;
     (2) All state offices, including legislative, except (a) judicial offices; and (b) the office of superintendent of public instruction;
     (3) All county offices except (a) judicial offices ((and)); (b) the prosecuting attorney; and (c) those offices for which a county home rule charter provides otherwise.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.52.111 and 2004 c 271 s 173 are each amended to read as follows:
     Candidates for the following offices shall be nominated at partisan primaries held pursuant to the provisions of this chapter:
     (1) Congressional offices;
     (2) All state offices except (a) judicial offices; and (b) the office of superintendent of public instruction;
     (3) All county offices except (a) judicial offices ((and)); (b) the prosecuting attorney; and (c) those offices where a county home rule charter provides otherwise.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.52.231 and 2004 c 271 s 174 are each amended to read as follows:
     The offices of superintendent of public instruction, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, judge of the superior court, ((and)) judge of the district court, and prosecuting attorney shall be nonpartisan and the candidates therefor shall be nominated and elected as such.
     All city, town, and special purpose district elective offices shall be nonpartisan and the candidates therefor shall be nominated and elected as such.