RICHLAND, Wash. – Donald Landsman, a candidate for Richland City Council Position 4, has died, according to his daughter. She announced his passing on his professional Facebook page and that funeral arrangements are being planned.
Landsman passed away on Sunday, August 31. He had secured more than 58.5% of the votes in this year’s primary election for Richland City Council Position 4, with John Maier trailing at 37.5%.
Benton County auditor Brenda Chilton explained that Landsman will remain on the November general election ballot due to state law.
“There is a provision in the law that requires that in instances of a candidate’s death or withdrawal of a candidate after a certain deadline, that we still have to keep them on the ballot,” Chilton said. “The primary reason for that is because we have deadlines that we have to meet with our printers, with the state for the combined voters’ pamphlet.”
Each year, the local and state voters’ pamphlets are combined and printed by the Secretary of State’s Office. Chilton said these pamphlets and ballots will not inform voters of Landsman’s death, and the information must spread “organically.”
“A lot of people have been asking about the other candidate that’s in that race, and there’s been some misinformation going around that because Mr. Landsman has passed away. Even if he gets the most votes, that it would default to the second candidate. That is not the case. And it really goes down to whichever candidate gets the most votes, even if in this situation, sadly, the candidate has passed away and they get the most votes, they’re still considered the presumptive winner and just wouldn’t be able to take office,” Chilton said.
If Landsman wins the election, a vacancy will be declared. The city council will then have 60 days to appoint someone to the position until the next election. If the position is not filled in 60 days, the mayor will make the appointment.
“So if Mr. Landsman gets the most votes in the general election, then he will be considered elected,” Chilton said. “However, he will not be able to take office and the position will become vacant. Or in that case, the position will be filled by the Richland City Council.”
