AGO Opinion Topics: CANDIDATES

1.  If a political campaign receives a loan from a commercial lending institution which meets the criteria set forth in RCW 42.17.720(3), and the loan is not guaranteed by any other person, the loan is exempt from the campaign contribution limitations set forth in RCW 42.17.640.  2.  In limiting the extent to which candidates may be reimbursed from campaign contributions for loans to their political campaigns, RCW 42.17.125(3) applies to funds borrowed by the candidate personally but used for campaign purposes and also to funds borrowed by the candidate's political committee but guaranteed by the candidate.

1. If a candidate for partisan office dies prior to either the primary or general election, and the candidate's party does not substitute another candidate, the deceased candidate's name should remain on the election ballot.   2. If a candidate for judicial or other nonpartisan office dies before the primary or general election, the candidate's name should remain on the ballot; if the deceased candidate gains the most votes, the result is a vacancy in the office, to be filled as provided by law for the office in question.   3. If the name of a deceased candidate appears on the ballot, votes cast for the deceased candidate should be counted; if the deceased candidate gains the most votes, the result is a vacancy in the office; the person with the second highest vote total is not entitled to a certificate of election.

A candidate for elective office may not qualify to have his statement entered in the official candidates' pamphlet provided for by chapter 29.80 RCW by filing a declaration that he is without sufficient assets or income in lieu of paying the fees required by RCW 29.80.050.

The provisions of section 6, chapter 161, Laws of 1949 (Rem. Rev. Stat. 5166-4) relative to filing declarations of candidacy, controls and supersedes the provisions of section 5032, relative to nominative petitions for the election of directors in school districts of the first class in class A counties and counties of the first class.