Published: Sunday, January 2, 2011
A rocky start in county executive race
The lessons of this story are political alliances are fragile, and many aren’t built to last longer than the next campaign.
The tale begins four months ago when Lake Stevens Rep. Mike Hope and Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb lunched at Shawn O’Donnell’s in Everett, charting ways to push and pull their Republican Party into relevance in Snohomish County in 2011.
They agreed reestablishing the power and presence of Republicans demanded better recruiting, grooming and mentoring of candidates than the official county party had been doing. They spoke of forming a group like Big Brothers for novices and newcomers seeking guidance in their political lives.
Eventually, the conversation got around to how each of them wanted to take on and take out Democratic County Executive Aaron Reardon this November. Hope and Lamb tossed around which of them might have the best chance of winning and agreed to pay for a poll to gather more info.
When the results arrived in November, Hope liked what he read so much he launched a campaign against Reardon. He also seems to have iced things with Lamb — not a freeze mind you, just a little chill.
Then, last month, Hope moved ahead on what he and Lamb chatted about at lunch, organizing the inaugural gathering of the Snohomish County Leadership Alliance.
Hope drew up the guest list of elected officials, business owners and party stalwarts and coordinated with Everett City Council President Shannon Affholter on inviting them all.
Lamb wasn’t there — because he wasn’t invited.
Initially, Hope said Lamb got an invite from him. This week, the freshman state lawmaker clarified that he didn’t actually call or e-mail Lamb but posted information on Facebook and figured the mayor would learn that way.
Lamb claimed no harm, no foul. But there’s no missing the message that Lamb got the cold shoulder because he hasn’t yet ruled himself in or out as a candidate for county exec. Until he does so, relations with Hope probably won’t get much warmer.
Hope wants this alliance to become much more than a buddy system for young pols. While not a political action committee funneling money to candidates, it is set up so its all-Republican membership can be politically active on any GOP hopeful’s behalf.
Like Hope. He is confident the alliance will spawn new volunteers and strategies, collateral benefits he doesn’t want to share with an opponent — something Affholter isn’t and Lamb still might be.
Credit Affholter for not sharing Hope’s indelicate if not self-serving motivation. He described the new alliance as a “think tank” which over time can help develop leaders for the party.
“We have some pretty qualified people out there,” Affholter said. “And there are those with good leadership skills who can help them learn.”
Lamb is one of those leaders whether he enters the race or not.
It’s a reality Hope cannot ignore.
“If he runs for county executive,” Hope said, “or if he doesn’t run for county executive, he’ll be invited to the next meeting.”
Lamb may be too busy to attend. He might have a campaign to run.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
The tale begins four months ago when Lake Stevens Rep. Mike Hope and Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb lunched at Shawn O’Donnell’s in Everett, charting ways to push and pull their Republican Party into relevance in Snohomish County in 2011.
They agreed reestablishing the power and presence of Republicans demanded better recruiting, grooming and mentoring of candidates than the official county party had been doing. They spoke of forming a group like Big Brothers for novices and newcomers seeking guidance in their political lives.
Eventually, the conversation got around to how each of them wanted to take on and take out Democratic County Executive Aaron Reardon this November. Hope and Lamb tossed around which of them might have the best chance of winning and agreed to pay for a poll to gather more info.
When the results arrived in November, Hope liked what he read so much he launched a campaign against Reardon. He also seems to have iced things with Lamb — not a freeze mind you, just a little chill.
Then, last month, Hope moved ahead on what he and Lamb chatted about at lunch, organizing the inaugural gathering of the Snohomish County Leadership Alliance.
Hope drew up the guest list of elected officials, business owners and party stalwarts and coordinated with Everett City Council President Shannon Affholter on inviting them all.
Lamb wasn’t there — because he wasn’t invited.
Initially, Hope said Lamb got an invite from him. This week, the freshman state lawmaker clarified that he didn’t actually call or e-mail Lamb but posted information on Facebook and figured the mayor would learn that way.
Lamb claimed no harm, no foul. But there’s no missing the message that Lamb got the cold shoulder because he hasn’t yet ruled himself in or out as a candidate for county exec. Until he does so, relations with Hope probably won’t get much warmer.
Hope wants this alliance to become much more than a buddy system for young pols. While not a political action committee funneling money to candidates, it is set up so its all-Republican membership can be politically active on any GOP hopeful’s behalf.
Like Hope. He is confident the alliance will spawn new volunteers and strategies, collateral benefits he doesn’t want to share with an opponent — something Affholter isn’t and Lamb still might be.
Credit Affholter for not sharing Hope’s indelicate if not self-serving motivation. He described the new alliance as a “think tank” which over time can help develop leaders for the party.
“We have some pretty qualified people out there,” Affholter said. “And there are those with good leadership skills who can help them learn.”
Lamb is one of those leaders whether he enters the race or not.
It’s a reality Hope cannot ignore.
“If he runs for county executive,” Hope said, “or if he doesn’t run for county executive, he’ll be invited to the next meeting.”
Lamb may be too busy to attend. He might have a campaign to run.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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