Dead man's opponent faces uphill fight in Wash. election
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Jim Langston faces a peculiar problem in his campaign for a water commissioner seat in his suburban Seattle hometown: his opponent is dead, but Langston could still lose.
The 70-year-old retired school teacher is running in King County Water District Number 54 in Des Moines, Wash.
KING-TV reports that Langston's rival died in August. Because that man was running unopposed at the time of filing, the late candidate's name is the only one on the ballot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Langston entered the race when he learned about the death, but that was after the filing deadline expired. That means he must run as a write-in candidate and his name doesn't even appear in the King County voter's guide.
KING says that if the deceased candidate is elected, a successor would be appointed by other Water District members or the King County Council.