8/28/08

Primary vote results offer few surprises

by Beckye Randall

It seems unlikely that voter participation in the state’s first “top two” primary election will meet Secretary of State Sam Reed’s prediction of 46 percent turnout. Statewide, only about 41.5 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Snohomish County results were slightly lower, at about 40 percent.

Although we were warned it could happen, none of the local partisan races appear to have resulted in two candidates from the same party. And despite a more equitable approach to minority parties, Democrats and Republicans remained in firm control of all contests.

Since many counties in the state have switched to mail-in ballots, like Snohomish County, votes were still being counted and final figures had not been released. The outcome of most races seems predictable, however, based on the data so far.

In the governor’s race, Christine Gregoire (D) and Dino Rossi (R) will face off again this year in what is sure to be another close contest. In our county and across the state, Gregoire held a narrow lead in the primary battle, pulling in a little over 48 percent to Rossi’s 46.5 percent.

In other executive branch races, Brad Owen (D) will run opposite Marcia McCraw (R) for Lieutenant Governor, Sam Reed (R) will face Jason Osgood (D) for Secretary of State, and the Treasurer’s race will feature Jim McIntire (D) and Allan Martin (R).

Democrat Brian Sonntag will face Republican Richard (Dick) McEntee for Auditor. Only two candidates had filed for each of the offices of Attorney General and Commissioner of Public Lands, and those four candidates advance to the general election: Rob McKenna (R) and John Ladenburg (D) for attorney general and Peter J. Goldmark (D) against Doug Sutherland (R) for land commissioner.

In the crowded field of candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction, current superintendent Terry Bergeson finished first, with Randy Dorn close behind. Mike Kreidler (D) will face John R. Adams (R) in the race for Insurance Commissioner.

Incumbent Rick Larsen (D) will face challenger Rick Bart (R) in the contest for U.S. Representative in District 2. Statewide and in Snohomish County, Larsen led by as much as 17 percentage points over his opponent as of August 23.

State legislator contests appear to favor the incumbents in both parties. Races in the 38th, 39th and 44th legislative districts only had two candidates (with the exception of the 38th district, position two, where Democrat Mike Sells ran unopposed), so the primary served more as a polling tool than anything else.

The race for Superior Court Judge, Position 6, will see Joe Wilson versus George Appel in the fall. Appel enjoyed about a 6,000-vote lead in the primary contest.

In other results, the fire/EMS levies for the City of Marysville and North Snohomish County both passed. The Marysville levy received a little more than 60 percent approval, while the north county measure garnered a 55.5 percent “yes” vote.

With the primary election out of the way, we can expect more rigorous campaigning from the candidates and their political parties. November can’t come soon enough.