WENATCHEE — The war chests for Tuesday’s election are relatively small this year. The yard signs are few.

“I think what we’re seeing is we’re not having as many contested races,” said Skip Moore, acting auditor for Chelan County. “And this time around, I haven’t seen as many active campaigns for those contested races. I don’t know if it’s a case of — I don’t want to call it candidate apathy — maybe not as much passion involved as in the past.”

This election seems lackluster after last year’s super-charged campaigns for president, governor and county and PUD commissioners. Also, most local races this year are nonpartisan, so much of the firepower behind the Democratic and Republican parties isn’t there, Moore said.

Candidates spend less during odd numbered election years, compared to the hundreds of thousands spent during even-numbered years. The difference is what’s up for grabs. Special district races, such as school board and city council, tend to dominate odd-numbered years. State and county offices open up on even-numbered years.

More candidates and money tend to gravitate toward offices that interest more people, such as county commissioner, prosecutor or sheriff, said Grant County Auditor Bill Varney.

Aside from the prosecutor race, Varney said the level of campaigning is about normal for an odd-numbered year. Marty Whitehall, elections director for Douglas County, agreed.

Only two candidates of the 59 who filed in North Central Washington reported spending more than $5,000 on their campaign, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).

If candidates spend more than $5,000, or accept a contribution of more than $500, they must report all contributions and spending to the state.

“I’ve never run (for office), so I didn’t have any concept as to how much this was going to cost,” said Albert Lin, a candidate for Grant County prosecutor. “I’m certainly a little shocked.”

Lin raised more than $37,000 for the race, including nearly $11,200 of his own money.

Lin’s opponent, interim Prosecutor D. Angus Lee, raised more than $52,000, which includes nearly $21,000 of his own money. He said he expected to spend between $30,000 to $60,000, based on other contested races for county office.

The prosecutor position would normally be up for election next year, but former prosecutor John Knodell was elected as judge last year. Lee was appointed interim prosecutor in January.

The victor of this year’s election will serve the rest of the term, and will run for re-election next year to serve the next four-year term.

One other candidate is filing campaign finance records with the PDC, although voluntarily. G. Brian Egan, challenger for the East Wenatchee Water commissioner race, has raised nearly $3,100, including about $2,000 in personal funds.

“There’s nothing to hide,” said Debbie Egan, his wife and campaign manager. “We would have to do an end-of-campaign report anyway, so we either disclose now or in a few days. It’s easy to do it.”

Incumbent John Sterk said he turned down a $750 campaign contribution so he wouldn’t have to file with the PDC.

“I returned the money because of the time you have to spend on full reporting. It changes the rules,” Sterk said.

Sterk said he anticipated spending $1,200 maximum, but his total is now about $1,600, plus $200 of his own money.

“I cannot imagine having to spend this kind of money to get re-elected but I’ve had to do it and I will do it because I want the job,” Sterk said. “It blows me away we’re even close to spending this kind of money.”

Egan said he believes the investment is worth it.

“Sometimes you’ve got to take a stand in what you believe in and that costs a little money,” Egan said.

Rachel Schleif: 664-7139

schleif@wenatcheeworld.com