By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch While voters in Pierce County are finding out this week who their choices among candidates will be for the upcoming election, one ballot decision they're already assured of facing involves a building instead of people. A much-debated advisory vote on a new county government office building is scheduled for the primary election Aug. 4. The outcome isn't expected to alter the $126.9 million project, since the County Council has already approved plans for it, and because advisory votes are non-binding. The council voted 4-3 April 28 in favor of an advisory ballot measure. The four-member majority GÇô Jim McCune, Joyce McDonald, Doug Richardson and Dan Roach GÇô have either criticized the overall cost and financing of the project or questioned if the public was adequately informed about it before the council approved it. Since the go-ahead that was given in February, a group of citizens have launched an attempt to block it with a referendum. The legality of that is being contested in a lawsuit filed by other citizens who contend the office project isn't subject to referendum opposition. The building, proposed initially by County Executive Pat McCarthy, would house 19 county departments and divisions and is planned for a location in Tacoma that currently is the county-owned site of the former Puget Sound Hospital. McCarthy and other supporters of the building say it will save public funds by centralizing agencies in a single location instead of in leased office space around the county.-á Meanwhile, in election developments separate from the building issue, filing is underway this week for candidates for offices in this fall's election. Candidates have until the end of the day Friday to register with the county auditor's elections department. Online filing and information is available at piercecountyelections.org, and in-person filing with a computer kiosk is at the county election center at 2501 S. 35th St. in Tacoma. The five-day filing period began Monday. In south Pierce County, offices up for election include three Eatonville Town Council seats and town treasurer, and three seats each for Bethel School Board and Eatonville School Board. Positions are also headed for the ballot for South Pierce Fire and Rescue Commission, Graham Fire and Rescue Commission and Fire District 23 (Ashford) Commission (one seat apiece), and Ashford Water Commission, Clear Lake Water Commission, Elbe Water Commission and Kapowsin Water Commission. Voters countywide also will elect a 21-member charter review commission to weigh possible changes of the county charter, the constitution-like framework of county government.
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