By Evan Smith
Democrat Scott Whelpley, who is running third in results of the Tuesday, Aug. 5 primary for an open position in the 21st Legislative District, has endorsed fellow Democrat Strom Peterson for the general election in November, when Peterson apparently will face Republican Allen McPheeters.
Republican McPheeters led results of the top-two primary updated Friday with 32 percent of votes counted to 28 percent for Edmonds City Councilman Peterson, 21 percent for Whelpley, 15 percent for Democrat Justin McMahon and 4 percent for Democrat Dick McManus.
Whelpley noted Thursday that the four Democratic candidates for the position had combined to win 68 percent of the votes for the position left open by the retirement of Democrat Mary Helen Roberts.
“I encourage my supporters to support Strom Peterson in the November election,” Whelpley said. He added: “He will be a strong advocate for the Democratic values we share in this district, I look forward to voting for Strom and Lillian Ortiz-Self in November.”
Ortiz-Self, an appointed incumbent, is the Democratic candidate for the District’s other position in the House of Representatives.
As of Friday, she had 56 percent of the primary vote to 34 percent for Republican Jeff Scherrer, 6 percent for independent Ed Wegner and 4 percent for Green Party candidate Bob Lewis.
Whelpley added, “I am grateful to the voters of the 21st District who supported my campaign. We ran a tough, positive campaign, and met lots of voters who want to see real solutions for the challenges the middle class faces.”
Whelpley went into the primary with endorsements from both the Herald and the Seattle Times. Peterson had an endorsement from Rep. Roberts and a joint endorsement with McMahon from the 21st Legislative District Democratic Committee,
Peterson goes into the general-election campaign with a big financial advantage, having reported raising $44,986 and spending $21,985 for both the primary and the general election, while McPheeters has reported raising $1,803 and spending $1,375.
Whelpley had reported raising $34,865 and spending $24,640. McMahon reported raising $39,398 and spending $$23,328. Both will have to return some of the contributions that came from donors who gave money for both the primary and general election.
McManus had reported raising $546 and spending $507.
The 21st District includes most of Edmonds, and unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and northeast of Lynnwood, in addition to all of Mukilteo and part of south Everett.
Elections officials will continue to count votes through the Aug. 19 certification of results.
