Former Richland City Council candidate, Lisa Thomas, running for Governor

RICHLAND, Wash.-- One-time candidate for Richland City Council, Lisa Thomas, has filed to run for Governor through the Washington State Secretary of State's office.

This is the week that candidates for local and state-wide races officially file and pay their filing fees.

Thomas, who lost a 2019 bid for the Richland City Council after accusing Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller of sexual harassment, did not file a party affiliation.

She most recently garnered attention by starting a GoFundMe fund-raiser in an effort to support Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier's efforts to file a lawsuit against Gov. Jay Inslee to force him to allow businesses to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thomas is a Richland High School graduate and Registered Nurse, and has been critical of Gov. Inslee's executive orders to implement social distancing throughout the state.

In addition to Thomas, Washington State Sen. Phil Fortunato from Auburn has filed to run for governor as Republican, and Inslee has filed to run for reelection as a Democrat.