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<< Previous   of   Next >>  Photo Gallery: 2008 Election: Local Photos   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Incumbents lead most races for state House 11/5/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Snohomish County's state senators keep jobs Haugen, Stevens, McAuliffe lead well in early returns By Bill Sheets Herald Writer Three incumbent state senators in Snohomish County held solid leads in their bids for re-election in early returns. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, led over her Republican challenger, former Island County planning commissioner Linda Haddon, 54.3 percent to 45.7 percent. It was a contentious race. "It was so totally nasty; it was the worst campaign I've ever had run against me," Haugen said Tuesday night. Several negative fliers were sent out targeting Haugen, she said. One of them showed Haugen alongside former Soviet Union leader Yuri Andropov and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, with the title "New Leadership, 1982." Haugen called the flier "red baiting" in one newspaper story. The piece was sent by a political arm of the state Senate Republican caucus. In other races, Republican Sen. Val Stevens led over Democratic challenger Fred Walser and Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe held a comfortable lead over Republican challenger Dennis Richter. Haugen was feeling good about her early lead. "To me, it shows that people don't believe that sleazy stuff," she said. Haddon, a former Island County planning commissioner, did not return a phone call seeking comment. In her campaign, Haddon criticized Haugen for difficulties in the state ferry system. Haugen is a senior member of the Senate and one of its most influential. As chairwoman of the transportation committee, Haugen plays a major role in setting policy and deciding how the state spends billions of dollars on roads, bridges, buses and ferries. Haddon, 60, has said Haugen must answer for the state's not having boats available when the aging Steel Electric-class vessels got pulled from service on the Keystone-Port Townsend route last year. Haugen said the state is now seeking bids to have new ferries built. Haugen, 67, won a seat as a state representative in 1982 and a decade later was elected to the Senate. She is seeking a fifth term. Haddon called the 26-year incumbent a career politician and argued it was time for a change. The district covers all of Island and parts of Snohomish and Skagit counties. In another testy race, Stevens, R-Arlington, was leading former Sultan Police Chief Walser 55.6 percent to 44.3 percent in early returns. Stevens, 68, is seeking her fourth term. Negative fliers were sent out by both sides. Stevens' district, which covers the eastern part of the county, is mostly Republican and conservative, she said. "I believe the conservatives paid attention and recognized the good work I have done for them in this district by fighting the increase in taxes," she said. "I oppose the regulations the bureaucrats are imposing on our constituents, running them out of business." Stevens also mentioned that Walser in June pleaded guilty to providing false information to a public servant, a gross misdemeanor, while serving as Sultan police chief. He was ordered to do community service and pay fines to the city. That might have been a factor in the race, Walser said. "Some people who don't know me would take that at face value," he said. He said that his message about a need for improvements in transportation resonated with many voters. Walser is chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition Walser, 68, a Monroe Democrat, spent about 40 years in law enforcement. He was an officer for the Washington State Patrol and recently retired as Sultan police chief. State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, held a comfortable lead over Republican challenger Dennis Richter, 61 percent to 39 percent. Richter, 57, also of Bothell, is an electrical engineer at Boeing in Everett who has never before run for office. McAuliffe, 68, is seeking her fifth term in the state Senate. She's finishing up her 16th year. The district covers Bothell, Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Maltby and parts of north King County. McAuliffe, who is chairwoman of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, has made education her specialty in the Legislature. Richter said he was motivated to run for the 1st District because of the $3.2 billion projected state budget deficit. He said he would push for a permanent spending reduction of up to 2 percent. McAuliffe said the biggest accomplishment in education recently is the creation of the Department of Early Learning, which provides financial help with child care for families in need and is developing a rating system for preschools. Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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