Established candidates lead in early primary election results
August 20, 2010
By Warren Kagarise
UPDATED — 8:00 a.m. Aug. 20, 2010
Established candidates outpaced challengers in the early election results.
The primary set up a showdown for a 5th Legislative District seat in the state House of Representatives, a competitive congressional race and a chance to elect a judge to the King County District Court bench.
In the 5th District, state Rep. Glenn Anderson, a Republican, outpolled Democrats Dean Willard and David Spring. Anderson has 58 percent of votes counted, Spring polled 25 percent and Willard polled 16 percent.
Unless Willard pulls ahead as ballots trickle in during the days ahead, the race will be a rematch of the 2008 contest between Anderson and Spring.
The district includes North Bend and Snoqualmie, plus parts of Maple Valley, Sammamish, most of Issaquah and unincorporated King County.
District voters sent Anderson to Olympia in 2000 and re-elected the Fall City resident in subsequent elections.
In Snoqualmie Valley, Si View Metropolitan Park District’s $6.7 million bond measure staked a large lead in early returns, with more than 62 percent of votes cast for the measure. The district includes North Bend and parts of unincorporated King County.
Congressman Dave Reichert pulled ahead of a crowded field, including the Democrat, former Microsoft and Drugstore.com executive Suzan DelBene. Reichert, a former King County sheriff, led DelBene by 47 percent to nearly 27 percent. Democrat Tom Cramer garnered just under 10 percent. Republican Tim Dillon, a Yarrow Point councilman, took 5 percent despite being endorsed by The Seattle Times, along with Suzan DelBene. Longshot candidates rounded out the field.
Observers expect a close election, as DelBene seeks to become the first Democrat to represent the 8th Congressional District, which sprawls across King and Pierce counties. Though Reichert has come close to defeat in the past, political analysts said he has a stronger hand in November.
Dino Rossi — a former Issaquah representative in the state Senate and Republican nominee for governor in 2004 and 2008 — trailed U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on election night. Rossi is due to face the Democrat in November in another contest drawing national attention.
Murray amassed 30 percentage points over Rossi in King County — 58 percent to 27 percent. Statewide, Murray led Rossi by 46 percent to 33 percent in a crowded primary. Republican — and former Super Bowl star — Clint Didier took 12 percent of votes counted with the backing of Sarah Palin and Tea Party activists. He managed 7 percent in King County.
Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker and Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell surged past Mercer Island attorney Ketu Shah in the race for District Court judge.
Tucker pulled in about 45 percent and Mitchell garnered 34 percent. The candidates face off in the November election. Shah trailed at about 20 percent.
The county created the position last year to address a growing caseload.
The bustling court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. The district includes Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville and parts of unincorporated King County.
King County Elections plans daily updates until all ballots have been counted.
The results remain unofficial until the county Canvassing Board meets Sept. 1 to certify the election. Final results should be posted to the elections website by noon Sept. 1.
The elections office started to receive marked ballots days after the office mailed blank forms to voters in late July. The agency starts processing ballots upon receipt, but law prohibits elections staffers from tabulating results before 8 p.m. on Election Day. In the run-up to the deadline, staffers opened ballots and reviewed voter signatures in a secure location at the elections office in Tukwila.
If a signature problem arises, staffers contact voters to resolve the issue in order for the ballot to be counted.
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