Former mayor files for Wallowa Co. Commissioner position 2

ENTERPRISE — Four candidates have filed so far for five positions in Wallowa County's May 20 primary election.

Republican Susan Roberts, former Enterprise mayor and city councilor, has filed for position No. 2 on the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners. She was the first candidate to file.

The position is held by Ben Boswell of Lostine, also a Republican.

"I am still deliberating," Boswell said when asked if he was going to file.

Boswell is serving his fourth four-year term. One of those was as chairman of the board.

For position No. 1 on the board of commissioners, incumbent Mike Hayward of Joseph has filed. Hayward is in his second term as chairman and third term on the commission.

Position No. 3, held by Dan DeBoie of Joseph, is not up for election until 2010.

For the position of Wallowa County sheriff, the only one who has filed is Fred Steen of Joseph, who will be seeking his third term.

No one has filed for the positions of Wallowa County treasurer held by Ernestine Stein of Enterprise, or Wallowa County assessor held by Gay Fregulia of Enterprise.

All positions, except for the county board of commissioner seats, are nonpartisan.

All positions will be on the May 20 ballot. The general election will be Nov. 4.

March 11 is the filing deadline for all the offices.

Residents must file at Wallowa County Clerk Dana Roberts' office in the Wallowa County Courthouse in Enterprise.

Candidates can file by either paying a $50 filing fee, or by gathering signatures of voters on a petition.

Candidates for commissioner positions need 92 signatures, and all the other offices need 39.

The first is determined by calculating 2 percent of the county votes cast in the last presidential election, and the latter by 1 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, Dana Roberts said.