Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Gregoire, Rossi neck and neck in early returns By Jerry Cornfield, Herald Writer Here we go again. Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican rival Dino Rossi were neck and neck in early returns from counties across the state. Gregoire led in Snohomish County with 50.6 percent of the vote to Rossi’s total of 44.1 percent. She had 39,228 votes to his 34,171. Snohomish County election officials do not expect to update the numbers until Wednesday afternoon. The statewide figures do not include any votes from King or Pierce counties. Gregoire, 61, is seeking a second term while Rossi, 48, is looking to become the first Republican elected governor in Washington since 1980. The two fought to the closest finish in state history in 2004 with Gregoire winning by 133 votes out of nearly 3 million ballots cast. In that remarkable battle, Rossi was certified the winner after initial balloting and a machine recount. Gregoire emerged as the victor on a hand recount. Republicans contested the results in court but lost when a Chelan County Superior Court judge upheld Gregoire’s win. In this much-anticipated rematch, the two candidates are raising money at a good clip. Gregoire has raked in $9.13 million and Rossi has taken in $7.36 million, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. In 2004, each received about $6.3 million in contributions There are eight other candidates vying for governor, including Christian Pierre Joubert of Edmonds, a Democrat, and James White of Marysville, an independent. Duff Badgley of Seattle is the lone Green Party candidate and Will Baker of Tacoma is running on the Reform Party ticket. Christopher Tudor of Seattle and Mohammad Hassan Said of Ephrata are declaring “no party” preference John Aiken of Medical Lake near Spokane and Javier Lopez of Lacey are vying as Republicans. Aiken also ran in 2004 and picked up 6.3 percent of the votes cast by Republicans in the primary. State officials are predicting a turnout of 46 percent of the state’s 3.4 million registered voters.

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million