Updated Aug. 11 with information from Moore on her withdrawal

Candidates for two local offices dropped out of the race on Aug. 10 the deadline to withdraw.

Rina Fontana Moore has withdrawn as the Democrats’ candidate for clerk and recorder and Cayle Halberg withdrew from the nonpartisan race for a justice of the peace.

Terry Thompson, Cascade County elections administrator, told The Electric that the local Democratic Central Committee has until Aug. 19 to name a replacement for Moore, under state law.

Cascade County primary election preliminary results

If they fail to name a candidate by the deadline, the only name that will appear on the ballot is Lynne Deroche, who won the Republican primary in June over Desarea Valentine.

Moore told The Electric on Aug. 11 that she withdrew from the race due to health issues of her mother and husband. She is the caregiver for both currently.

“The public needs to have someone’s undivided attention,” in the clerk and recorder role, “I can’t give that right now.”

She said “there’s no way I could dedicate my normal 50 hours a week” to the job right now while serving as caregiver.

“My immediate family needs my assistance right now,” Moore said.

She said there was no political maneuvering in her decision and that she’s too competitive to hand over a race to anyone else.

Since no write-in candidates filed by the deadline, and Steve Fagenstrom is an incumbent, the ballot will be changed to ask whether he should be retained, Thompson said.

Two justice of the peace positions are on the November ballot.

The other is contested, with Brian Bebbington and Robert Polich vying for the seat.

Ballots due June 2; county candidate questionnaires

Some races are uncontested but will appear on the ballot, including sheriff, county attorney and public administrator.

Thompson said she and the County Commissioners decided today that they wouldn’t cancel those races and declare winners by acclamation, as allowed under state law, since they felt it was important for voters to be aware those terms were up and who was running for the offices.

There will be no write-in lines for any county races, she said.

County candidate filing closes March 4, some races uncontested so far

Jesse Slaughter won his primary for sheriff in June and Josh Racki was uncontested for another term as county attorney.

Thompson is encouraging local voters to ensure their voter registration is up to date before ballots are mailed in early October.

The county races on the November ballot are:

Cascade County Commission

Tom Lynch (R)

Barbara Bessette (D)

Sheriff

Jesse Slaughter (R)

County Attorney

Josh Racki (R)

Clerk and Recorder

Lynn Deroche (R)

Democratic candidate if named by local party by Aug. 19

Public Administrator

Gerald Boland

Justice of the Peace, Department 1

Brian Bebbington

Robert Polich

Justice of the Peace, Department 2

Steven Fagenstrom

District Court Judge

John Parker