Political newcomer stuns Schmidt

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Democrat Steve Hobbs – an Iraq combat veteran opposed to the war – was leading Tuesday in his bid to unseat Republican state Sen. Dave Schmidt, who has represented the 44th District for 12 years.

Hobbs is a political newcomer who failed in a bid last year for the Snohomish County Council. If he wins, Hobbs will represent a district that covers Snohomish, Mill Creek and Lake Stevens.

Democratic challenger Timothy Knue also led in a bid to upset a veteran GOP state legislator, reflecting a national political trend of Democrats sweeping in on their party’s coattails.

Two candidates were neck-and-neck in a state House seat in the 39th Legislative District, which includes the Skykomish Valley.

44th District

Hobbs, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Kosovo, took an early lead in his bid for the position held by Schmidt, who has served four years in the Senate after serving eight years in the state House of Representatives.

Hobbs, 36, of Lake Stevens said a nationwide swing toward Democrats helped his campaign.

“This is a national trend that transferred over to local,” he said.

Schmidt, 52, pointed out that less than a third of the ballots sent out had been returned as of Tuesday. Another count is planned for today.

“I thought I’d be doing a little better, but it’s still really early,” he said.

Late-arriving ballots tend to lean Republican, Schmidt said.

Hobbs said he was motivated to run by what he saw as a lack of support from the Bush administration for the troops in Iraq. He said his top three issues for the state are transportation, education and health care.

Meanwhile, two Democratic state representatives appeared to be winning over their Republican challengers.

For Representative Position 1, incumbent Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, maintained a lead over Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens. Dunshee, chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee, defeated Hope, a Seattle police detective, in the 2004 election.

Dunshee said he would work to bring a four-year university to Snohomish County. Hope said he supports a cap on the increase of property taxes for seniors.

For Representative Position 2, incumbent John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, was winning over Robert Legg, a Republican from Lake Stevens.

Lovick, speaker pro tem of the Legislature and a former state trooper, said he would like to crack down on auto theft. Legg, a Methodist pastor, said he wants to see major transportation improvements, especially on Highway 9, without creating new taxes.

39th District

Incumbent Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, was leading his opponent Scott Olson, a Democrat from Monroe, by about 20 votes Tuesday night.

“We knew it’s going to be tighter than the last time” partly because of the national political atmosphere leaning toward Democrats, Kristiansen said.

Olson, a former Sultan city councilman, said he emphasized local issues for “everyday people,” such as affordable health care.

“People are ready for change,” Olson said.

Kristiansen, 43, who seeks his third two-year term, cited improving U.S. 2 and the state’s rural economy as top issues. Olson said he supports managed growth in the district, which includes the Skykomish Valley.

10th District

Democratic challenger Timothy Knue was leading two-term Rep. Barbara Bailey in the 10th Legislative District. The Mount Vernon High School teacher was narrowly ahead of the Republican business owner.

“It’s going to be tight,” he said, after hearing the results Tuesday night. “It looks good, but it’s early. It’s the scoreboard. We’ve played the game. We’ve done the best we can and we’ll just wait for the votes to come in.”

The district includes both urban and rural areas in northwest Snohomish and southwest Skagit counties, and all of Island County.

Knue, a political newcomer from Conway, has pledged to emphasize economic stability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility if elected.

38th District

State Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, was defeating Republican challenger Kim Halvorson of Marysville. It’s the second time in two years that he faced her.

McCoy had a strong lead after early vote returns were counted Tuesday night.

McCoy, a member of the Tulalip tribes, is the only American Indian in the Legislature. This will be his third term representing the 38th Legislative District, which includes Everett, parts of Marysville, the Tulalip reservation and the Snohomish Valley west of Highway 9.

Halvorson said her experience owning a medical supply business would help her fix health care and improve the state’s business climate.

1st District

Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell, appears headed to a second term in the House of Representatives.

Ericks held a big lead over GOP challenger Mark Davies.

Ericks, 55, a retired Bothell police chief, pledged to focus on economic development, health care reform and education.

The 1st District represents Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, Brier, Maltby and an unincorporated area north of Lynnwood.

32nd District

Three incumbent Democratic legislators were easily holding their positions against Republican challengers.

Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, held a large lead over Republican challenger David Baker.

Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Shoreline, was easily defeating challenger Steve Gibbs. Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, was well out in front of challenger Norine Federow.

The district covers the southern part of Edmonds in Snohomish County, and Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Juanita in King County.