So all the candidates have filed, none of our Democrats has serious opposition and we can all use the ballots we get at the end of July as scratch paper or just recycle them?

No. Nix. Nyet. Nuhn uh! A thousand times no!

Owing to actions, decisions, directions and prevailing views of the U.S. Supreme Court, the two major political parties, legislators, the Grange and Washington voters, we have a whole new kind of primary election on our hands in which every vote counts big and results will amount to a general election.

In each contest the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. In a number of jurisdictions around the state (including two in Clark County) the final could pit two Republicans or a Republican and an Independent against one another with no Democrat surviving.

Moreover, even when a Republican and Democrat are unopposed in the primary race for a seat and end up in the general election, their primary tallies will be counted by people with time, money and energy to contribute to the fray. That will be particularly important in such contests as the one at the top for re-election of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire. The regressive, anti-government, big-money manipulators are bent on shoving her aside in favor of their designated hitter, Dino Rossi.

Democrats also need to vote in order to assure sufficient support for the 70 Democratic Precinct Committee Officers who will be the core of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee for the next two years. Seventy-five are on the ballot, all but four uncontested. One has moved since filing. In Precinct 340, Donna Quesnell and John Van der Burgh seek election. In Precinct 490, Howard Whiting is opposed by Sheena Bicknell. In Precinct 550, Tim Probst and Suporn Chunhachatchawalkul seek election. In Precinct 947 the candidates are Jean P. Evans and Michael H. .Kepcha. Those who will be elected if they get at least 10 percent of the tally for U.S. Rep. Brian Baird:

In the 15th LD, Sharon Lee-Faris, Alan Wickizer and Elida Monroe.

In the 17th LD, Les Lomax, John F. Howes, Marion Ward, Tom Iberle, Carla Camp, Gary Akizuki, Judith K. Mehigan, Jack Morgan, Mike Turnauer, Julie Hukee, Carolyn Wolin, Debora Supplitt, Dena Horton, David Carrier, Gretchen Starke, Julie C. McBride, Jim Martin, Celia J. Louderback and Peter Aller.

In the 18th LD, Charles McClement, Paula Winter, William Allman, Bill Ryckman, Norman G. Banks, Doris Holmes, C. Douglas Canoose, Debra Churchman, Chris D. Thompson, Eugene Carroll, John Buchanan, Kathleen Arthur, Ed Carthell, Mick George, Jackie Lane, Michael Walt Mahaffa, Amanda Nelson, Carl R. Dugger, Rick Marshall, Ann Warren and Greg Jones.

In the 49th LD, George Miller, David Michael Heywood, Steve Stuart, Petronella “Peggy” Pratt, Sandra Hoyt, Brendan Kelly, Marcine Miller Miles, Rosalie Gottlieb, Vicki M. Work, Harold F. Janneck, Caniel M. Ogden Jr., David Nelson, Gail Pollock, Dan Marsh (who has since moved to the 17th LD), Kathleen Lawrence, Laurel Whitehurst, A. Everett Cook, Ronald E. Morrison, Meridith Green, Charles Roe, Marian Joyce Bryce, Deborah Gottlieb and Rich Rodriguez. Twelve of the PCO candidates are running for the post for the first time. Several, including county chair Dena Horton and 18th LD Vice Chair Kathleen Arthur, have changed precincts since the election of PCOs two years ago.