Prosecuting attorney, auditor are exceptions in primary election
Many county elective positions are on the ballot this year. Most have only two candidates, or a single uncontested candidate, and all those candidates will automatically move on from the Aug. 7 primary election to the November general election.
In the contested races, County Auditor Laurie K. Thomas did not file for re-election. Filing for the post were Cari Hall of Okanogan and Randy Gates of Omak. Both will advance to the November general election. Prosecuting Attorney Branden Platter of Omak is being challenged by Arian Noma of Pateros. Platter was appointed to the position when Karl Sloan resigned. Both will advance to the November general election.
We asked the county auditor and prosecuting attorney candidates to tell us about themselves and why they are seeking those offices.
Okanogan County Auditor
The county auditor is the custodian of records pertaining to real property. The auditor oversees county finances and accounting. He or she handles name changes, marriage licenses and vehicle and vessel licensing. The auditor handles voter registration and oversees elections.
RANDY GATES
(prefers Republican Party)
I was born in Omak to Rudoph and Bonnie Gates. I love agriculture, logging, hiking, camping, fishing, skiing and boating here in Okanogan County.
I graduated with honors from Omak High School with a strong background in math and accounting. I attended a business college in Bellingham under the accounting program. I have been married to Leah for 20 years and have three daughters and four grandchildren here in Okanogan County.
I worked for 10 years in the Okanogan County auditor’s office as the licensing supervisor. I was a customer-service specialist with a desire to help.
I have held supervisor, director, manager and assistant manager positions in my work history. I served as local soccer club president and referee coordinator and enjoy coaching and helping our youth on a volunteer basis.
I love Okanogan County and want to give back to my community. I have a strong background in vehicle licensing, have accounting knowledge, and will be a working auditor available during business hours.
We need someone who will work hard to organize the office space to be functional for all departments. By grant writing, I hope to make improvements without using taxpayer money.
Customer service can always be improved, making sure all residents feel welcomed in their Auditor’s Office.
Continuation of prepaid election ballots, making sure voters have a great avenue to have a voice in this county and the state, would also be a priority.
CARI HALL
(prefers Republican Party)
I was raised in Okanogan and graduated from Okanogan High School in 1988. I have 19 years of experience in finance and accounting management. I have experience in grant administration, general ledger management, budget management and cash management.
I also have extensive experience in the supervision and oversight of general-accounting functions including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and asset management.
For 13 years, I was the chief financial officer for a local multi-million-dollar not-for-profit business.
I have been the finance manager for the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office for the last two-plus years. I am responsible for coordinating all accounting functions. I also have worked in recording and voters’ registration, and I am certified in vehicle licensing.
This community is very important to me, which is why I want to be your next auditor. Although the auditor is responsible for multiple highly important duties, it is first and foremost a finance position.
It is my belief that the auditor should have the skills, knowledge and experience to perform all of these duties. I believe that my experience and knowledge make me uniquely qualified for the position.
Okanogan County Prosecuting Attorney
The prosecuting attorney is the legal adviser of the county. He or she represents the county in criminal and civil proceedings. The prosecuting attorney prosecutes criminal and civil actions, advises grand juries, and participates in state judicial matters such as the statewide sexual-assault kit tracking system.
ARIAN NOMA
(prefers Republican Party)
After working in prosecution in Maryland from 2006-10, I opened a private practice that has spanned Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Okanogan County. In 2014, I opened an office in Tonasket. I joined Thomason Justice in Pateros in 2017. When not working, I am with family or engaging in some type of service.
I stand to reduce over-prosecution, crime and wasted resources – they choke our liberty. We must cease criminalizing all behavior. Criminal convictions needlessly destroy our youth and children’s futures.
Cases can be resolved without ever being formally prosecuted, further saving tax dollars. To combat overregulation, it is imperative to elect local officials that will protect the citizens’ rights at all costs, especially their Constitutional and Second Amendment rights.
Every 180 days a person in our local jail costs us roughly $19,530. The return on investment is a revolving door driven mainly by drug offenses. We can reduce the tax burden by only seeking convictions necessary to achieve punishment while making the community and/or a victim whole, and by reducing caseload and seeking reasonable bails only.
I agree with our sheriffs that constant communication with the Sheriff’s Office, other government, the people and the entire community is essential to ensure that our citizens are free to enjoy liberty. By building relationships, cooperatives and partnerships we can all work together to fashion the most efficient methods to the goal of protecting the peace and ensuring that our citizens enjoy maximum freedom to pursue liberty.
I possess the experience, humility and integrity for this position.
BRANDEN PLATTER
(prefers Democratic Party)
I became a prosecutor to help people and be a voice for victims. I was appointed as the Okanogan County Prosecutor in August 2017 after being the county’s chief criminal deputy prosecutor for over three years.
I prosecute violent offenses, sex offenses, crimes against children, and drug dealers aggressively. However, I try to promote service-based resolutions on lower-level offenses.
I believe in honesty and transparency. I have always been, and will always be, honest with victims and the public, even if all I have to tell them is bad news.
I am familiar with the budget of the Prosecutor’s Office. I have decreased spending on the use of outside counsel and have tripled one of the funding sources of the victim-advocate position at no cost to the taxpayers.
The office’s main difficulty is trying to maximize our ability to prosecute crimes, despite the lack of resources facing both the office and county. I have made changes within the office to streamline how we process cases, and have eliminated the scheduling of unnecessary procedures in court to shorten court calendars.
Being very familiar with the operations of the prosecutor’s office, I believe I am in the best position to continue leading and improving the office
In other races:
• Okanogan County District 3 Commissioner Jim DeTro of Tonasket (prefers Republican) is seeking another term. He is challenged by Salley Bull of Oroville (Independent) and Robert Fuchs of Oroville (Independent). Methow Valley residents don’t vote in the primary, but will vote for this position along with countywide residents in the November general election.
• County Assessor Scott Furman said earlier that he was retiring. Only one candidate, Larry Gilman of Omak (prefers Republican), filed for the position. Gilman has worked as an appraiser for the Okanogan County Assessor’s Office for 23 years. He has been a commercial appraiser and, for the past two years, has been chief appraiser. Gilman also handles technical and software issues for the department.
• County Clerk Charleen Groomes of Riverside (prefers Republican) is running for re-election and is unopposed.
• County Coroner David Rodriguez of Twisp (prefers Republican) is also running unopposed for re-election.
• County Treasurer Leah Mc Cormack of Omak (prefers Republican) is also seeking re-election and is unopposed.
• Okanogan County District Court judges Robert Grim of Winthrop and Charles Short of Nespelem are both unopposed in their quest for re-election to the nonpartisan positions.
• William Colyar of Carlton is unopposed for the Okanogan County Public Utility District position No. 2 seat.
