EPHRATA Ephrata city officials are accepting applications for an open seat on the Ephrata City Council. Mayor Bruce Reim said at the Jan. 3 meeting that he hopes to have the seat filled by the next council meeting Jan. 17.
The seat was vacated by Ashley Grout, who ran unopposed for it in November. But Reim said Grout discovered some conflicts of interest and decided against joining the council.
Applicants must be registered voters and have been city residents for at least one year. All Ephrata council seats are at-large, meaning applicants can live anywhere in town.
EPHRATA Incumbents on the Moses Lake City Council and Moses Lake School Board will be facing at least one challenger for their seats. There will also be a race for one seat on the Samaritan Healthcare board. Those races emerged after the first day of filing for Grant County offices in the 2023 general election.
The filing period ends Friday. Races that attract more than two candidates will be on the ballot in the Aug. 1 primary, but as of Monday no races had three candidates.