The Twisp Valley Grange will host a public forum for candidates seeking the District 2 seat on the Okanogan County Board of Commissioners next Monday (July 11) beginning at 6:30 p.m.
All four candidates for the District 2 position — incumbent Ray Campbell, Andy Hover of Winthrop, Ashley Thrasher of Twisp and Stan Kvistad of Okanogan — have indicated they will attend the forum, according to a press release from the grange.
The moderator will be George Schneider. Written questions from the audience will be compiled for the second half of the forum, which is scheduled to last until 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
The primary election is Aug. 2. In the primary, voters only vote for candidates in their own district. The Methow Valley is District 2, the seat currently held by Campbell. The top two candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 8.
In the general election, voters vote for candidates from all districts, so Methow Valley voters will also be able to vote for the District 1 commissioner seat now held by Sheilah Kennedy. She is being challenged by Ted Reinbold of Okanogan, Chris Branch of Omak and Larry Schreckengast of Okanogan .
Hover, the manager of North Valley Lumber in Winthrop, is the son of Bud Hover, who served two terms as county commissioner and was defeated in a close race by Campbell four years ago. He prefers the Republican Party.
Kvistad is a heavy equipment operator who specializes in road construction and other large projects. He prefers the Republican Party.
Thrasher, currently a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, has also served on a hotshot crew and as a smokejumper. She states no party preference.
The deadline for new voters to register by mail or online was (Monday) July 4. The deadline for in-person registration — for new Washington voters only — is July 25. Ballots are expected to begin arriving in mid-July. For more information about ballots and voting, call the Okanogan County auditor’s office at (509) 422-7240 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the auditor’s page at www.okanogancounty.org.
The Twisp Valley Grange is at 344 West Second Ave. For more information about the candidates’ forum, contact Terry Dixon 997-7494.
