Two contested nonpartisan races on Grant County ballot
Voters to decide Superior Court, Grant PUD positions.
Updated
Grant County Superior Court candidates Ken Chadwick (left) and Trevor Bevier prepared to debate during a public forum last month in Ephrata. Photo by Randy Bracht
EPHRATA – Grant County voters will see seven local, nonpartisan positions – for judgeships and seats on Grant PUD’s board of commissioners – listed on their Nov. 3 election ballot, but only two of them are contested.
Here's a profile of those two races:
GRANT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Former state assistant attorney general Jennifer Richardson of Wenatchee was appointed to the local bench in January by Gov. Bob Ferguson following last year’s departure of Judge Tyson Hill, who now serves on a state appellate court and is unopposed for election in November.
Richardson finished third in the August primary and was eliminated from contention to fill out the remaining two-year term of Hill’s county position. Private practice attorney Ken Chadwick of Moses Lake led the primary with 5,533 votes. Trevor Bevier, a deputy prosecuting attorney for Grant County, also advanced to the upcoming general election after edging Richardson by 230 votes, 4,741 – 4,511.
Superior courts handle felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $50,000, real estate matters, domestic relations, juvenile and probate courts, adoptions and child dependencies, and appeals from district court. In Washington, the current annual salary is $244,631 with half paid by the state and half by the county in which the judge presides.
Judicial positions are nonpartisan and there are restrictions which limit comments by candidates on potential future rulings. Consequently, in casting their ballots, voters may ponder the merits of incumbency, “hometown” recognition, endorsements, legal experience, and the intangible quality of “judicial temperament.”
Bevier, 45, a Grant County resident since childhood, joined the prosecutor’s office last September and primarily handles civil cases and litigation, preparing legal opinions for county officials, and reviewing county legal documents and contracts.
Previously, he worked as a legal intern and associate attorney for 14 years for the Huberdeau Law Office in Moses Lake. Case work included civil, contract, probate, real estate, bankruptcy, and personal injury law representing individual clients and organizations in state and federal courts in Washington.
Bevier also has prior work experience in real estate sales and as a title insurance officer between 2000 and 2009, and as a shop and farm hand while attending high school and college.
It is the combination of “real world and professional experience that sets me apart from any other candidate for Superior Court Judge,” he said.
If elected, Bevier believes he can “provide some additional efficiencies to further elevate the Grant County Superior Court.” A primary concern, he said, “is to hear cases and render decisions in a timely manner” with the involved parties feeling their matters will be “heard and decided with care and consideration.”
Similarly, Chadwick said he would work with the other elected judges to “increase judicial efficiency and lower litigation costs” through proposed changes to local court rules and researching the potential to add more courtroom space.
Chadwick, 63, is also campaigning on the breadth of his work and legal experience, beginning as a business owner in the early 1980s, followed by 15 years as a police officer, then a private attorney starting in 2003. Leading up to the August primary, Chadwick referred to himself as the only "non-government attorney" on the ballot.
He cited experience in local, state, and federal courts in Washington handling family, criminal, and predominantly civil cases, along with free legal “pro bono” work for charities and military veterans. He has also been appointed as an arbitrator in superior court to hear civil cases, including “guardian ad litem” matters to protect the interests of minors, and as a pro tem court commissioner in certain parental rights, juvenile criminal, and domestic violence protection cases.
“My combined experience in law enforcement, litigation, business ownership, and raising a family brings a practical and balanced perspective to the courtroom,” Chadwick stated in a questionnaire response.
During a candidate forum in Ephrata last month, both Bevier and Chadwick were questioned about their views on property rights. In terms of litigation, each said the burden is on a plaintiff or “moving party” to prove their right to own or control property.
In instances of eminent domain – taking private land for public use – the burden rests with the government entity which must provide compensation of fair market value, said Chadwick. Bevier similarly agreed, but also noted that private property uses can be affected in multiple ways, such as zoning requirements, covenants, and other potential restrictions.
Bevier is a 1999 graduate of Ephrata High School, 2001 of Big Bend Community College, 2011 from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and 2014 from the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane.
Bevier said his campaign has been endorsed by county prosecutor Brandon Guernsey, retired Grant County District Court Judge Richard Fitterer, Grant County commissioner Cindy Carter, and local attorneys Jeremy Huberdeau, Zach Acres, Damiano Cacchiotti, and David Kazemba. He lists other community supporters Dr. Dino Cacchiotti, Jason Hall, Nick and Donna Tommer, Jon and Jessica Kersey, Dustin Canfield, Aaron Fitterer, Shaun Moberg, and Ken and Bonnie Thompson.
Chadwick earned a bachelor’s degree in law and justice studies from Central Washington University in 1998, worked in law enforcement as an officer and sergeant in patrol and detective units, then graduated magna cum laude in 2002 from the Seattle University School of Law. He began his law career with a Seattle firm, then joined the Schultheis Tabler Wallace law firm in Ephrata in 2007, becoming a partner in 2009.
Chadwick said he is endorsed by retired Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell, current District Court Judge Nick Wallace, retired state Supreme Court Justice Richard Stevens, Ephrata physician Dr. Lowell Allred, the Washington State Farm Bureau and “numerous Grant County attorneys.”
Challenger Jacque Rasmussen (left) and incumbent Larry Schaapman, both Quincy-area residents, are vying for the District 3 seat on the Grant PUD board of commissioners.
The Grant County Public Utility District is overseen by a five-member, nonpartisan board of commissioners. They approve policy, power rates, and an annual budget that is currently over $700 million for a utility district which has over 900 employees, operates two major hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River, an extensive electrical distribution system, and a countywide fiber-optic telecommunications network.
Set by state law, commissioners currently receive an annual salary of $38,856. They are also eligible for a per-diem payment of $161, up to an annual maximum of $22,540, for attending meetings or other authorized district business.
There are three commission seats with defined boundaries within the county that carry six-year terms in office, plus two at-large positions with four-year terms. Terms are staggered so two positions are up for election every two years.
Nelson Cox, 73, is unopposed in seeking a third four-year term to the commission’s B/at-large position following his initial election in 2018 and reelection in 2022. Cox is a lifelong resident of the Warden area, where he has farmed for more than 45 years.
While her name is not listed in the voters pamphlet or on the Nov. 3 election ballot, Jacque Rasmussen of rural Quincy is an official write-in candidate for the PUD’s board of commissioners. She is challenging incumbent Larry Schaapman to represent District 3, which encompasses the southwest part of Grant County.
Rasmussen, 60, retired this June after a 35-year teaching career with the Quincy School District. During her tenure, she taught English courses, served as a teacher-librarian and college-preparation instructor, was a member of building and district leadership teams, and coached volleyball, cheer, and dance.
“My background as an educator has taught me the importance of listening, asking questions, bringing people together, and advocating for others,” Rasmussen said in a candidate profile to GCJ.news. “Grant County is home, and my decision to run for Grant PUD Commissioner comes from a desire to use my experience as an educator, advocate, and community member to listen to ratepayers and help ensure their voices are heard.”
Rasmussen said she is running as a write-in candidate because “I believe ratepayers deserve a strong voice, transparent leadership, fiscal responsibility, and commissioners who listen to the people they represent. I will work to protect private property rights and ensure landowners are treated fairly when PUD projects impact their property.”
“Larry Schaapman and I have very different perspectives on several important issues facing Grant PUD, particularly private property rights, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and public involvement,” she said.
Rasmussen and her husband, Alan, are among several landowners involved in a legal dispute with Grant PUD over easements sought by the district on their properties for construction of the 32-mile Wanapum to Mountain View 230 kilovolt transmission line, an $86 million project which would convey electricity between switchyards near Wanapum Dam and Quincy on a route crossing 130 parcels of land.
Easements on 10 of those parcels remained in dispute as of August 2025. Issues involve land-use impacts, fair market compensation, and alleged disregard for other alternative routes. Earlier this year, the PUD initiated condemnation proceedings in Grant County Superior Court to acquire the easements. In August, a judge denied a judgment sought by the property owners. The individual lawsuits have been consolidated and are now pending review by a state appellate court.
The experience, said Rasmussen, “has given me a personal understanding of how PUD decisions can affect private property owners, families, agriculture, and our community. I believe this perspective is important when making decisions about major projects and ratepayer dollars.”
Rasmussen said key campaign issues involve protecting private property rights and advocating for “fair compensation” when private lands are needed for public projects; making large power users pay the infrastructure costs of bringing new, energy-intensive operations to Grant County; and improving “access and communication” with the public.
That would include the commission holding some evening meetings “so working people have a better opportunity to attend, ask questions, and stay informed about decisions that affect their families, farms, and businesses,” she said.
Schaapman, 57, is a Quincy High School graduate who has farmed in the area since 1982. He was appointed to the PUD commission in November 2012 and is seeking his third six-year term in office following elections in 2014 and 2020.
“Operating our own farm business has had applicable applications at the PUD, only at the PUD it’s on a much larger scale,” said Schaapman, who currently chairs the commission. “I have brought valuable leadership skills from the various boards I have served on, often in leadership positions.”
Along with the PUD, those involvements include the Grant County Farm Bureau, Washington State Farm Bureau, Potato Growers of Washington, CHS/Sun Basin board, and Quincy Rotary Club.
Schaapman said his priorities in seeking re-election include maintaining local control over the utility district, protecting “core customer owners” – residential, agricultural, and small business – with stable power and low predictable rates, and promoting “responsible growth” without burdening core customers with additional costs.
He also spoke of the district’s continuing exploration of new “firm” energy resources – nuclear, fusion, and geothermal – to supplement power generation from the PUD’s Priest Rapids and Wanapum hydroelectric dams.
“Some years back, we began looking at resource adequacy and exploring new resources. I understand those resource needs,” he said. “I also want to continue to support our employees receiving additional education and have the facilities and resources that they need to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.”
During his tenure on the commission, Schaapman said he has developed connections that are useful at the state and federal level in “green energy discussions, lobbying for new-resource permitting, and funding.”
Regarding the disputed Wanapum-to-Mountain View transmission line, fellow PUD commissioner Nelson Cox has said in documents that he “appreciated all the work that Schaapman did to listen to the property owners and meet with each of them and members of the Grant PUD staff” as the project proceeded.
Other nonpartisans on the Grant County ballot:
Former Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill is unopposed for election after his appointment in 2025 to the state Division III Court of Appeals, which primarily considers cases arising in eastern Washington.
Also unopposed for reelection to four-year terms are incumbent Grant County District Court Judges Brian Gwinn and Nick Wallace, both of Moses Lake. Tom Middleton of Ephrata, currently a county Superior Court commissioner, is also unopposed for the District Court Position 1 seat held by Judge Brian Barlow, who did not file for reelection.
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Two contested nonpartisan races on Grant County ballot
Voters to decide Superior Court, Grant PUD positions.
EPHRATA – Grant County voters will see seven local, nonpartisan positions – for judgeships and seats on Grant PUD’s board of commissioners – listed on their Nov. 3 election ballot, but only two of them are contested.
Here's a profile of those two races:
GRANT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Former state assistant attorney general Jennifer Richardson of Wenatchee was appointed to the local bench in January by Gov. Bob Ferguson following last year’s departure of Judge Tyson Hill, who now serves on a state appellate court and is unopposed for election in November.
Richardson finished third in the August primary and was eliminated from contention to fill out the remaining two-year term of Hill’s county position. Private practice attorney Ken Chadwick of Moses Lake led the primary with 5,533 votes. Trevor Bevier, a deputy prosecuting attorney for Grant County, also advanced to the upcoming general election after edging Richardson by 230 votes, 4,741 – 4,511.
Superior courts handle felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $50,000, real estate matters, domestic relations, juvenile and probate courts, adoptions and child dependencies, and appeals from district court. In Washington, the current annual salary is $244,631 with half paid by the state and half by the county in which the judge presides.
Judicial positions are nonpartisan and there are restrictions which limit comments by candidates on potential future rulings. Consequently, in casting their ballots, voters may ponder the merits of incumbency, “hometown” recognition, endorsements, legal experience, and the intangible quality of “judicial temperament.”
Bevier, 45, a Grant County resident since childhood, joined the prosecutor’s office last September and primarily handles civil cases and litigation, preparing legal opinions for county officials, and reviewing county legal documents and contracts.
Previously, he worked as a legal intern and associate attorney for 14 years for the Huberdeau Law Office in Moses Lake. Case work included civil, contract, probate, real estate, bankruptcy, and personal injury law representing individual clients and organizations in state and federal courts in Washington.
Bevier also has prior work experience in real estate sales and as a title insurance officer between 2000 and 2009, and as a shop and farm hand while attending high school and college.
It is the combination of “real world and professional experience that sets me apart from any other candidate for Superior Court Judge,” he said.
If elected, Bevier believes he can “provide some additional efficiencies to further elevate the Grant County Superior Court.” A primary concern, he said, “is to hear cases and render decisions in a timely manner” with the involved parties feeling their matters will be “heard and decided with care and consideration.”
Similarly, Chadwick said he would work with the other elected judges to “increase judicial efficiency and lower litigation costs” through proposed changes to local court rules and researching the potential to add more courtroom space.
Chadwick, 63, is also campaigning on the breadth of his work and legal experience, beginning as a business owner in the early 1980s, followed by 15 years as a police officer, then a private attorney starting in 2003. Leading up to the August primary, Chadwick referred to himself as the only "non-government attorney" on the ballot.
He cited experience in local, state, and federal courts in Washington handling family, criminal, and predominantly civil cases, along with free legal “pro bono” work for charities and military veterans. He has also been appointed as an arbitrator in superior court to hear civil cases, including “guardian ad litem” matters to protect the interests of minors, and as a pro tem court commissioner in certain parental rights, juvenile criminal, and domestic violence protection cases.
“My combined experience in law enforcement, litigation, business ownership, and raising a family brings a practical and balanced perspective to the courtroom,” Chadwick stated in a questionnaire response.
During a candidate forum in Ephrata last month, both Bevier and Chadwick were questioned about their views on property rights. In terms of litigation, each said the burden is on a plaintiff or “moving party” to prove their right to own or control property.
In instances of eminent domain – taking private land for public use – the burden rests with the government entity which must provide compensation of fair market value, said Chadwick. Bevier similarly agreed, but also noted that private property uses can be affected in multiple ways, such as zoning requirements, covenants, and other potential restrictions.
Bevier is a 1999 graduate of Ephrata High School, 2001 of Big Bend Community College, 2011 from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and 2014 from the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane.
Bevier said his campaign has been endorsed by county prosecutor Brandon Guernsey, retired Grant County District Court Judge Richard Fitterer, Grant County commissioner Cindy Carter, and local attorneys Jeremy Huberdeau, Zach Acres, Damiano Cacchiotti, and David Kazemba. He lists other community supporters Dr. Dino Cacchiotti, Jason Hall, Nick and Donna Tommer, Jon and Jessica Kersey, Dustin Canfield, Aaron Fitterer, Shaun Moberg, and Ken and Bonnie Thompson.
View more at electtrevorbevier.com.
Chadwick earned a bachelor’s degree in law and justice studies from Central Washington University in 1998, worked in law enforcement as an officer and sergeant in patrol and detective units, then graduated magna cum laude in 2002 from the Seattle University School of Law. He began his law career with a Seattle firm, then joined the Schultheis Tabler Wallace law firm in Ephrata in 2007, becoming a partner in 2009.
Chadwick said he is endorsed by retired Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell, current District Court Judge Nick Wallace, retired state Supreme Court Justice Richard Stevens, Ephrata physician Dr. Lowell Allred, the Washington State Farm Bureau and “numerous Grant County attorneys.”
View more at kenchadwickforjudge.com.
GRANT PUD COMMISSION
The Grant County Public Utility District is overseen by a five-member, nonpartisan board of commissioners. They approve policy, power rates, and an annual budget that is currently over $700 million for a utility district which has over 900 employees, operates two major hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River, an extensive electrical distribution system, and a countywide fiber-optic telecommunications network.
Set by state law, commissioners currently receive an annual salary of $38,856. They are also eligible for a per-diem payment of $161, up to an annual maximum of $22,540, for attending meetings or other authorized district business.
There are three commission seats with defined boundaries within the county that carry six-year terms in office, plus two at-large positions with four-year terms. Terms are staggered so two positions are up for election every two years.
Nelson Cox, 73, is unopposed in seeking a third four-year term to the commission’s B/at-large position following his initial election in 2018 and reelection in 2022. Cox is a lifelong resident of the Warden area, where he has farmed for more than 45 years.
While her name is not listed in the voters pamphlet or on the Nov. 3 election ballot, Jacque Rasmussen of rural Quincy is an official write-in candidate for the PUD’s board of commissioners. She is challenging incumbent Larry Schaapman to represent District 3, which encompasses the southwest part of Grant County.
Rasmussen, 60, retired this June after a 35-year teaching career with the Quincy School District. During her tenure, she taught English courses, served as a teacher-librarian and college-preparation instructor, was a member of building and district leadership teams, and coached volleyball, cheer, and dance.
“My background as an educator has taught me the importance of listening, asking questions, bringing people together, and advocating for others,” Rasmussen said in a candidate profile to GCJ.news. “Grant County is home, and my decision to run for Grant PUD Commissioner comes from a desire to use my experience as an educator, advocate, and community member to listen to ratepayers and help ensure their voices are heard.”
Rasmussen said she is running as a write-in candidate because “I believe ratepayers deserve a strong voice, transparent leadership, fiscal responsibility, and commissioners who listen to the people they represent. I will work to protect private property rights and ensure landowners are treated fairly when PUD projects impact their property.”
“Larry Schaapman and I have very different perspectives on several important issues facing Grant PUD, particularly private property rights, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and public involvement,” she said.
Rasmussen and her husband, Alan, are among several landowners involved in a legal dispute with Grant PUD over easements sought by the district on their properties for construction of the 32-mile Wanapum to Mountain View 230 kilovolt transmission line, an $86 million project which would convey electricity between switchyards near Wanapum Dam and Quincy on a route crossing 130 parcels of land.
Easements on 10 of those parcels remained in dispute as of August 2025. Issues involve land-use impacts, fair market compensation, and alleged disregard for other alternative routes. Earlier this year, the PUD initiated condemnation proceedings in Grant County Superior Court to acquire the easements. In August, a judge denied a judgment sought by the property owners. The individual lawsuits have been consolidated and are now pending review by a state appellate court.
The experience, said Rasmussen, “has given me a personal understanding of how PUD decisions can affect private property owners, families, agriculture, and our community. I believe this perspective is important when making decisions about major projects and ratepayer dollars.”
Rasmussen said key campaign issues involve protecting private property rights and advocating for “fair compensation” when private lands are needed for public projects; making large power users pay the infrastructure costs of bringing new, energy-intensive operations to Grant County; and improving “access and communication” with the public.
That would include the commission holding some evening meetings “so working people have a better opportunity to attend, ask questions, and stay informed about decisions that affect their families, farms, and businesses,” she said.
Schaapman, 57, is a Quincy High School graduate who has farmed in the area since 1982. He was appointed to the PUD commission in November 2012 and is seeking his third six-year term in office following elections in 2014 and 2020.
“Operating our own farm business has had applicable applications at the PUD, only at the PUD it’s on a much larger scale,” said Schaapman, who currently chairs the commission. “I have brought valuable leadership skills from the various boards I have served on, often in leadership positions.”
Along with the PUD, those involvements include the Grant County Farm Bureau, Washington State Farm Bureau, Potato Growers of Washington, CHS/Sun Basin board, and Quincy Rotary Club.
Schaapman said his priorities in seeking re-election include maintaining local control over the utility district, protecting “core customer owners” – residential, agricultural, and small business – with stable power and low predictable rates, and promoting “responsible growth” without burdening core customers with additional costs.
He also spoke of the district’s continuing exploration of new “firm” energy resources – nuclear, fusion, and geothermal – to supplement power generation from the PUD’s Priest Rapids and Wanapum hydroelectric dams.
“Some years back, we began looking at resource adequacy and exploring new resources. I understand those resource needs,” he said. “I also want to continue to support our employees receiving additional education and have the facilities and resources that they need to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.”
During his tenure on the commission, Schaapman said he has developed connections that are useful at the state and federal level in “green energy discussions, lobbying for new-resource permitting, and funding.”
Regarding the disputed Wanapum-to-Mountain View transmission line, fellow PUD commissioner Nelson Cox has said in documents that he “appreciated all the work that Schaapman did to listen to the property owners and meet with each of them and members of the Grant PUD staff” as the project proceeded.
Other nonpartisans on the Grant County ballot:
Former Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill is unopposed for election after his appointment in 2025 to the state Division III Court of Appeals, which primarily considers cases arising in eastern Washington.
Also unopposed for reelection to four-year terms are incumbent Grant County District Court Judges Brian Gwinn and Nick Wallace, both of Moses Lake. Tom Middleton of Ephrata, currently a county Superior Court commissioner, is also unopposed for the District Court Position 1 seat held by Judge Brian Barlow, who did not file for reelection.