Snohomish County is making some changes to its election materials in order to save the taxpayers' money.

For the first time, the voter's pamphlet is available online only rather than being printed and mailed to each voter. To find the 72-page document, visit www.snoco.org and click on the link for the August 17 Primary Information.

According to county auditor Carolyn Weikel, the digital format saves the county about $70,000.

The return envelope for the mail-in election has also been redesigned for simplicity and cost-savings, which lowers the county's election costs by about $60,000.

Ballots were sent out to registered voters beginning July 27, and the last day to return them, either bay mail or at a drop-off site, is Tuesday, August 17. A secure drop box is open at the county's administration complex, on the corner of Wall Street and Rockefeller Avenue in Everett, until 8 p.m. August 17.

Washington has adopted a "top two" primary system, which means the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, will go head-to-head in the November general election. The exception to that is for positions on the state's Supreme Court. When only two candidates appear, the top vote-getter will be elected by the primary. If there are more than two candidates, a 50 percent majority or better decides the election.

Marysville School District is also asking voters to approve a supplemental educational levy, as recently formulated by the state legislature, which adds 20 cents per $1,000 assessed value to residents' property tax bills for four years beginning in 2011.

So which races are in contention for the August primary?

U.S. Senate

Senator Patty Murray (D) is facing a plethora of challengers-14 of them, in fact. Assuming Murray holds on to her statewide supporters, the candidates most likely to survive the primary, according to polls and news reports, include Republicans Dino Rossi, Clint Didier or Paul Akers.

Rossi is a conservative, backed by building industry leaders and business interests, who favors repealing the health care reform bill and replacing it with "common sense bipartisan proposals that give power to patients and doctors, not government and insurance companies."

Rossi would push to make the "Bush" tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, repeal the estate tax and lower tax rates on businesses. He is also an advocate for expanding domestic energy production while opposing cap and trade programs.

Clint Didier is a former professional football player who now runs a farm in Eastern Washington. Didier has earned the endorsement of Sarah Palin and Texan conservative Ron Paul, and he is a vocal supporter of the Tea Party movement.

Didier believes cutting taxes and reducing regulations will spur economic growth and vitality, and he pledges he will not vote for any new taxes or increases in existing taxes.

He does not support federal intervention in health care, as he feels the Constitution gives that responsibility to the states. Didier is a proponent of domestic oil drilling and a revitalization of the nuclear power industry while calling for a reduction in "stifling regulations."

Paul Akers, a Bellingham resident and a successful businessman, bases his campaign on the promise of leading on principles, not on political expedience. A political newcomer, Akers espouses the sound business methods of empowering people while cutting the scope of government.

His platform is built on "10-3-Lean." Akers proposes cutting income taxes and spending by 10 percent across the board to stimulate the economy while reducing the size of government. He claims that, by making the cuts effective for three consecutive years, the result would be an invigorated private sector, an empowered populace and a smaller, more manageable government. "Lean" comes from the principle of eliminating waste and increasing efficiency with continuous improvement and increased competence.

Akers' campaign is mostly self-financed, and he has not sought endorsements or contributions from special interest groups or political action committees.

U.S. Representative District 2

The other federal race that's drawing attention pits incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen (D) against two other Democrats and two Republicans. The two-year term is being sought by Dems Diana McGinness and Larry Kalb and Republicans John Carmack and John Koster.

Koster is a Snohomish County councilman who enjoys strong local support, especially in the northern, mostly rural section of the county. A former dairy farmer, Koster would support a balanced budget law, repeal the estate tax and fight against "excessive" taxation and regulation.

Koster served three terms in the Washington state legislature and has held a seat on the County Council since 2000.

Republican John Carmack would reduce or eliminate income and capital gains taxes, and dismantle federal departments that include Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Democrat Diana McGinness is a retired fraud investigator who would put her skills to work fighting fraud, waste and abuse in government and in businesses that work for the government. She advocates the abolishment of corporate "personhood" and would fight for campaign finance reform.

Larry Kalb (D) vows to end tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas and to focus on creating jobs in renewable energy projects. He would bring troops home, convert military bases to hospitals and universities, and redirect 20 percent of the defense budget to education, renewable energy, updating infrastructure and job creation.

For information on all the candidates in the August primary, visit www.snoco.org and click on the link for August 17, 2010 Primary Information.

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