Whitman County Watch will start rolling out its Fall 2019 Voters Guide today with information on Pullman City Council races. All six candidates, including contested at-large and Ward 1 races as well as the two uncontested races, completed online questionnaires on their experience, local priorities and general issues. Their unedited responses have been published at the links below. We have also noted when candidates declined to answer questions.
We sent similar surveys to candidates in other contested municipal races throughout the county. Another eight candidates provided answers, which we will post soon. Dozens of other candidates did not respond or did not list contact information in their public filings. If any additional candidates would like to participate prior to Oct. 18, please contact me at: whitmancowatch@gmail.com
Pullman City Council responses
Francis A. Benjamin (At-large, challenger)
Eileen “Mac” Macoll (At-large, incumbent)
Chris Johnson (Ward 1, challenger)
Nathan Weller (Ward 2, incumbent/uncontested)
Patricia “Pat” Wright (Ward 3, incumbent/uncontested)
Find audio, video and additional coverage from a recent public forum with the candidates here.
Update, Oct. 11: The Daily Evergreen also published a voters guide this week on city council candidates.
Voter registration information
You can check the status of your Washington voter’s registration at the state’s new VoteWA portal. Legislators passed several new voter access expansions this year including pre-registration for minors, same-day registration and free postage.
You have until Nov. 5 to get in your ballot. To count, ballots must be postmarked or placed in a local dropbox by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Ballots will start going out in the mail Oct. 18. After you return your ballot, you can also make sure it was received and accepted for tabulation through VoteWA. Here’s a look at what happens to your ballot after it’s sent.
Voters can find a state guide to Whitman County candidates and local measures here. The League of Women Voters has also posted candidate and other ballot info. Local measures include Pullman Regional Hospital’s proposed $29 million bond levy. Read our previous in-depth reporting on that proposal.