County Clerk Gayle Trotter is one of four county incumbents facing no opponents in the upcoming May primary. (Malheur Enterprise/John L. Braese)
VALE – The doors closed at 5 p.m. last Tuesday at the Malheur County Clerk’s office as scheduled.
No one appeared that day to file for a public office on the May 15 primary ballot. In fact, since Sept. 7, only four candidates contacted the office to file for the election.
All four are incumbents and face no opposition.
Don Hodge was the sole filer for county commissioner. He has held the position since 2011. Others unopposed for election are County Clerk Gayle Trotter, Treasurer Jennifer Forsyth and Justice of the Peace Margaret Mahony.
Voters won’t find many choices on the ballot when looking at state races on the local scene.
David Goldthorpe will run unopposed in his first race for Malheur County district attorney. Goldthorpe was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown after Dan Norris resigned to take a position with the state.
Malheur County Circuit Court Judge Lung Hung has also refiled, but will face no opposition.
State Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, recently returned from his first short session of the Legislature looks to experience a regular session as he was the only candidate to file for District 60. He has been in office since February.
State Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, after facing many elections as a state representative, will be unopposed in the primary for his first senatorial race. Bentz faces Solea Kabakov, a democrat, in the general election.
John L. Braese: [email protected]; 541-473-3377.