Island County Auditor reverses course: Will put tardy candidates into voter's guide

The Island County Auditor's Office has reversed course and is now printing the candidate statements of all candidates running in the August primaries.

A number of candidates in key races had missed a vital deadline for submitting their statements and pictures to the voter's guide, which will be sent to every household in the county.

Auditor Sheilah Crider said earlier she would stick to the deadline.

That changed Tuesday. And while the move to allow the tardy candidates into the publication came as a surprise, Crider remained tightlipped about why she changed her mind.

Still, she said it's in the best interest of the voters to provide all the information to those who will cast ballots.

Voters will now also be able to study the statements of candidates for commissioner, Democrat Helen Price Johnson and Republican Reece Rose, who sent in their statements late. Price Johnson and Rose are running against incumbent Republican Phil Bakke and non-party candidate Curt Gordon, who made the deadline.

Coupeville attorney Craig Platt, who is trying to unseat Judge Vickie Churchill for the nonpartisan position, also missed the deadline.

Pratt, however, fell under different rules anyway, Crider said.

"He filed with the state and got an extension," she said.

"Everyone will be included," Crider added. "We have all candidates' statements and we will include the Sno-Isle Library Coupeville statement if we receive their statement on their attorney's letterhead within the next 36 to 48 hours," she said, adding that the county will not delay the printing of the guide.

Contact South Whidbey Record Island Life Michaela Marx Wheatley at mmarxwheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com or (360) 221-5300.

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