Incumbents seize local elections
November 13, 2008
By Jon Savelle
Apart from momentous results in the race for U.S. president, the Nov. 4 election also delivered important decisions for regional races and issues.
In the 5th Legislative District, incumbents Rep. Jay Rodne (R-North Bend) and Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R-Maple Valley) cruised to comfortable wins over Democratic challengers Jon Viebrock and Phyllis Huster. But Glenn Anderson, the Republican incumbent from Fall City, found himself in a close contest with Democrat David Spring.
At one point, his lead was just 19 votes, but by Nov. 10 Anderson had won by 1,794 votes.
Ballot measures brought out very clear preferences among the voters. Initiative 985, a Tim Eyman proposal to open carpool lanes to all vehicles during off-peak hours, went down to a resounding defeat with 60 percent opposed.
Initiative 1000 won 59 percent of the vote statewide. The “death with dignity” measure allows terminally ill persons to obtain their physicians’ assistance in ending their lives.
King County Proposition 1, for mass transit, won a whopping 70 percent approval from the voters. This was gratifying to its backers, who wondered whether a sour economy would have put voters off.
“With the voters’ blessing, we can now begin digging ourselves out of a 40-year transportation hole toward a better, greener transportation future through mass transit,” said King County Councilman Larry Phillips.
Voters also approved a fistful of amendments to the King County Charter, saying yes to more time for review of the King County budget, reducing the number of elected officials on certain regional committees, permitting the establishment of additional qualifications for some county elected officials, and stronger bans on unlawful discrimination.
In the statewide contest for commissioner of public lands, Democrat Peter Goldmark scored an upset win over incumbent Doug Sutherland, with the final tally giving him 62 percent of the vote.
Several of the candidates had thoughts to share on the election.
“In a year like this, it is very gratifying to be appreciated on my own merit regardless of partisan affiliation,” Pflug wrote in an e-mail. “Senate Republicans appear to have re-elected all incumbents and picked up a seat in the 2nd Legislative District. In the face of an antiBush tsunami, that result should give the majority Democrats reason for pause.”
Viebrock, who lost his race with Rodne, nonetheless said he was pleased that he and Rodne were able to discuss issues in a way that allowed them to distinguish themselves in the minds of voters while avoiding confrontation. He added that he probably would run for office again.
“While the national government gets the spotlight most (or all) of the time, the fact remains that state and local governments have far more impact on peoples’ daily lives,” Viebrock wrote. “If we all stay involved, then we give ourselves the best chance to come up with truly bipartisan solutions to our common problems, and a real chance to move forward in a way that enriches the lives of everyone.
“As to my experiences, I can say that running for office the first time is about like drinking water from a fire hose. I have learned a tremendous amount, and am much better off for the effort. Having met many thousands of people in our district is now a great source of pride, and ranks with my service in the Marine Corps as being a truly important and worthwhile event in my life.”
Reach Reporter Jon Savelle at 392-6434, ext. 234, or jsavelle@isspress.com. Reach Reporter Jim Feehan at 392-6434, ext. 239, or newcas@isspress.com.
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