MONTESANO— Grays Harbor voters have expressed some confusion about the upcoming Aug. 5 election — especially regarding a measure to create Grays Harbor Public Hospital District 2, according to Grays Harbor County Auditor Vern Spatz.
A ballot measure authorizing the creation of a public hospital district is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters living within the hospital district.
Commissioners, who will also be elected on the Aug. 5 ballot, will take office immediately when the votes are certified Aug. 19. However, if the measure to create the district fails, those elected will not hold office.
Commissioners will typically serve 6-year terms, but the commissioners’ first terms will be staggered in length so that the terms don’t all expire at the same time. Term lengths will be assigned based on the number of votes each commissioner receives, with the winning commissioner who earned the most votes receiving the longest term and the winning commissioner who earned the least votes receiving the shortest term.
The next Grays Harbor County Public Hospital District 2 election will take place in 2016, and two commission seats will be up for election. Another election will take place in 2018, when two more commissioners will be up for election. The three remaining commissioners will be up for election in 2020.