Duane Hamelin came up just 11 signatures short of becoming the first local candidate in modern times to qualify as an independent for this November’s general election.
Hamelin turned in 160 signatures to the Pierce County Board of Elections and Registration at last week’s deadline.
Under state law, independent candidates must secure 5 % of the registered voters in their district to secure a place on the ballot. In district two, that would be 137 signatures.
Election officials determined that 126 signatures met the requirements. Thirty-four signatures were rejected.
The 34 signatures that were rejected were due to the person not living in district two or not being registered to vote.
Hamelin had been seeking the second district seat on the county commission. The seat is now held by Commissioner Mike Streat. Streat gave up the post in an unsuccessful bid to challenge County Chairman Neal Bennett in the May primary.
Hamelin had been hosting public meet and greet events in recent months to secure the required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Efforts to reach Hamelin for comment were unsuccessful.
Republican nominee Graham Raley will become the next second district commissioner. Raley defeated Shawn Godwin in the Republican primary in May. Since Hamelin did not meet requirements to run as an independent candidate and since there is no Democratic opposition, Raley will take office in January. (See related story.)
