Initial vote tallies are available this morning. With the absentee ballot deadline being yesterday votes will still be counted for days. Statistically this is interesting because if there is significant change that will indicate some demographic factors at work, more difficult to fathom then a well structured survey, but also more meaningful.
Top vote getter in all Statewide races is incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, a TCC and UPS Graduate from Tacoma. FWIW, of all Statewide officials Sonntag is my personal favorite and I believe our strongest leader and the most honest.
Second is Same Reed, Secretary of State. I voted for Mr. Reed, but not without small reservations. I think he could of been out in the lead a bit more on the recent partisan primary issues. Most importantly I think he should be doing more to clean up KC elections as being messed up by those local folks, including Republican Prosecutor Satterberg. His office however is without scandal and he is perhaps the best of the 'old white guy' Republicans in this State, in or out of office.
Rounding out the 400 club is Rob McKenna, Pierce County Executive and former Prosecutor John Ladenburg received less than 75% of McKenna's total. Although I'm a Pierce County resident I'm a McKenna supporter, nothing against Ladenberg here, save though for his leadership of Sound Transit. Personally, I wonder if the Sound Transit survey folks have exit polled the success, or failure, of their board in this election.
Of course these are two way races, and the most watched race will be that between Gregoire and Rossi.
Current vote tallies put Gregoire ahead 365 to 344. This was a wide field and no one else was even close. Since the final will be a two way race reading the tea leaves on the split is important - both secondary partisan candidates were next in the tally followed by the Independent candidate. This one is still way too close to call and it looks like we are looking at another squeaker in November.
Doug Sutherland is ahead of his Democratic Challenger for the State Lands seat. Sutherland, also hailing from Pierce County has an enviable public and private service resume - perhaps only second to Democrat Aubrey Davis, of his generation. Managing State Lands as a publically spirited business (to benefit schools) is an important symbolic leadership post in my mind, more important than most folks give it. Democratic attacks against Sutherland, a competent manager have been very sleazy - the two faced criticisms of timber sales last time around was absolutely disgusting. One, it's the law to do so, two, it benefits schools, which the Democrats are always reminding us are the top priortiy, three, using trust land assets to boost the economy in a slower time makes a lot of sense - for State tax revenues and for the economy. My only problem with the accusations this time around is the timing. The allegations of sexual impropriety are only improper because of this - although the coverage of similar incidents with Mike Lowry were overblown this incident was underplayed, and way too late. Sutherland got my vote, but my ears are open to any innovative ideas advanced by Democratic Challenger Peter Goldmark.
Non-partisan schools chief Terry Bergeson advanced - IMO Bergeson along with DOT chief Paula Hammond and former senior legislator Helen Sommers are the strongest female role models in this State - in part through their mathematical literacy and the absence of other 'blame game' strategies to make up for that gap. None of her several challengers came close - it will be interesting to see if the anti-WASL folks are able to even mount a respectable campaign in opposition to Bergeson.
Math wiz economic forecaster Chang Mook Sohn failed to advance in the open Treasurer's race. I've no experience with Sohn, but he does appear quite competent in his current job and received my vote. I would hope that some of the animosity created by Gregoire and crew didn't misdirect itself at the Asian Sohn.
In the State Supreme Court races James Beecher looks to advance against Charles Johnson. Beecher is a silver fox of an attorney with an impressive resume. His issue is modernizing the courts in order to reduce costs - a good issue. I have no idea where he stands on other issues.
In local issues of note to this observer, Darcy Burner is running another very respectable race against Eastside Congressman Dave Reichert and this should be a very good race. In the Pierce County Superior Court challenger Michael Hecht is leading over incumbent Sergio Armijo.
