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Ballots hit mailboxes this week in Pend Oreille County’s General Election. On that ballot are two local races that have turned out to be quite competitive.
Incumbent County Commissioner Robert Rosencratnz, a Republican, is being challenged by local business owner Brandy Warren, also a Republican, for the District 2 seat. Rosencrantz and Warren faced off in the primary election this past August. When all the votes were counted, only one separated the two. The difference in the general election, however, is the entire county will vote on the race, instead of just District 2, as in the primary. Warren and Rosencrantz were the only two candidates running for the seat in the primary.
The other local race is for the non-partisan seat of Pend Oreille Public Utility District Commissioner, District 2, a seat currently held by Curt Knapp who, after 24 years in office, is not seeking re-election. Gerry David Bradbury and Ernie Hood are facing off, after a third candidate, Tracy Rutt, was eliminated in the primary.
The third big issue facing Pend Oreille County voters is the Public Hospital District No. 1 construction bond. See the Oct. 7 issue of The Miner.
Miner publisher Michelle Nedved sat down with each of the four local candidates last week for video recorded interviews. The stories below are a summary of those conversations, all of which can be viewed in their entirety on TheMinerOnline YouTube page. Scan this QR code for the direct link. While The Miner has not used AI in the newsroom before this project, because the videos are available for public viewing, we felt it was prudent to use the technology to transcribe those interviews into the written word. Nedved edited the stories and checked them against the videos for accuracy.
Ballots are due back to the Pend Oreille County Auditor’s Office by Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. Election officials are recommending voters either mail them back early, or drop them off directly into ballot collection boxes, as changes to U.S. Postal Office policies could delay processing of ballots close to election day.
Pend Oreille County has several ballot boxes around the area, including two in Newport, two in Cusick, one in Ione, Metaline and Metaline Falls.
