The close of the official filing period for elected offices earlier this month didn’t yield any new candidates in popular local races but it did show that for the first time in years a Whidbey Islander will not be filling the 10th Legislative District’s position 2 seat for state representative.

Running for the position is Democrat Tom Riggs and Republican Dave Hayes, both of Stanwood. Riggs, a park ranger and manager for Camano Island State Park, is trying for the second time to claim the seat while Hayes, a sergeant with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, is a political newcomer.

Incumbent Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, has held the position 2 seat since 2003 but is giving it up to challenge entrenched 10th District Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano. They are the only two candidates in that race.

Vying for state representative position 1 is incumbent Norma Smith, R-Clinton, and Aaron Simpson, D-Langley. Smith was appointed in 2008 and subsequently elected and Simpson is a barista and music composer. The job of state representative carries a two-year term while state senator runs for four years.

In federal races, incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen will have his hands full vying with five challengers seeking to become the next U.S. Representative for the Second Congressional District, a two-year position.

His challengers include Republican Dan Matthews and 99 percent Party candidate Mike Lapointe, both of Everett, Republican Eli Olson of Marysville, Republican John C.W. Shoop of Conway and Independent Glen S. Johnson of Mount Vernon.

Races for the two open county commissioner seats are particularly busy. Candidates who filed for District 1 are Coupeville Republican Jeff Lauderdale, Clinton Independent Curt Gordon, incumbent Democrat and Clinton resident Helen Price Johnson, Clinton Independent Ed Jenkins and Clinton Republican Wayne Morrison.

District 2 hopefuls include Independent Phil Collier, Republican Jim Campbell, Republican Jill Johnson Pfeiffer and the sole Democrat and incumbent Angie Homola. All four candidates hail from Oak Harbor.

The two Island County Superior Court judge seats up for grabs, both non-partisan positions, will see no changes as incumbents Alan Hancock and Vickie Churchill are both running unopposed.

Washington has a top-two primary system in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, proceed to the November general election. The primary will be held Aug. 7, with mail-in ballots sent out approximately three weeks prior to that date.