Reardon coasting past Hope in race for county executive

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon weathered a stormy campaign to emerge with a strong lead over challenger Mike Hope in Tuesday night’s vote.

Reardon, a Democrat, was ahead by 13 percentage points over the Republican state lawmaker, pushing him toward a likely third term in office.

“I’ll go to work with the same vigor and the same passion that I have before,” Reardon said after arriving at a celebration at Everett’s Labor Temple.

Tuesday night’s totals showed Reardon with 57,742 votes and Hope with 44,110. That gave Reardon more than 56 percent of the total and Hope about 43 percent.

Reardon sought to play down his apparent victory, cautioning supporters that many more votes are left to count.

Staying on the attack, he also denounced what he called “slimy tactics” from Hope’s campaign during these past few weeks.

When someone in the crowd asked whether Hope had conceded the race, Reardon responded with a pun.

“He’s very conceited, but has he called me yet?” Reardon said.

Hope did concede at a Republican election-night gathering in Lynnwood. He thanked his supporters and said he was proud of the work building up the local Republican organization for future elections.

“We’re content,” Hope said later. “We ran hard. We had some successes that came out of this campaign.”

He added that he stands ready to help Reardon’s administration, either as state lawmaker or in other ways.

“If I can be an ally in any way to help him and the county move forward, I’ll do it.” he said.

Voting in the all-mail election ended at 8 p.m. Tuesday. That was the deadline to drop off or postmark ballots.

Tuesday’s ballot totals were expected to account for about half the final turnout, elections manager Garth Fell said. The county elections office intends to release new totals daily, a process that could last all week or longer.

The Reardon-Hope contest grabbed headlines for mostly negative reasons, with the opponents publicly accusing each other of a lack of ethics.

Things got a little rougher last week when the Washington State Patrol acknowledged an ongoing investigation into Reardon’s spending during out-of-town travel on county business. A day before word of the investigation hit the media, Hope’s campaign called reporters urging them to look into rumors of the probe.

The investigation was launched after somebody brought concerns about Reardon’s domestic travel to the attention of fellow Democrat Dave Somers, the chairman of the County Council. Somers contacted Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe, also a Democrat, who on Oct. 26 asked patrol detectives to investigate potential official misconduct.

Reardon and Snohomish County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Phillips characterized news of the investigation as a failed last-ditch attempt by the Hope campaign to win the election.

Reardon, on Tuesday, said he had no regrets about the tone of the race. He insisted he only struck after Hope struck first.

Describing himself as a “working-class kid from Everett,” Reardon said, “You hit me and I’ll hit you back.”

Hope also said he had few regrets about how his camp conducted the race. He said he tried to focus on jobs, and tried to point out documented management problems with Reardon’s administration.

“Everything we struck on has been factual and true,” he said.

Hope said he still wants to push for a county-level office that would investigate issues of professional integrity.

Reardon, who turns 41 later this month, lives in Everett, where he grew up. He served as a state senator and representative before starting his current job eight years ago.

Hope, 36, is a Seattle police officer. He lives in Lake Stevens and is in his second term representing the 44th Legislative District.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.