Democrats tap Liias for Sullivan’s seat

Published 2:50 pm Thursday, December 20, 2007

A 26-year-old from Mukilteo is upsetting a powerful, if obscure, apple-cart.

The establishment of the Democratic Party in Snohomish County had, in some sense, picked a successor to former state representative Brian Sullivan, who was elected to the County Council in November.

That successor was Darrell Chapman, 62, president of the Snohomish County Labor Council.

Brian Sullivan himself endorsed Chapman as his replacement to the 21st Legislative District, as did Mike Cooper, another incoming Snohomish County Councilman. Sullivan, Cooper and Chapman have been fixtures in local Democratic politics for years.

But endorsements come before elections, and the results from an insider’s election in Everett Dec. 15 were surprising. Democratic precinct officers chose Marko Liias, 26, a one-term city councilman from Mukilteo, over both Chapman and Lynnwood City Councilman Mark Smith.

Liias won 22 votes, Smith won 16 and Chapman won 15. The party has forwarded the results to the Snohomish County Council, which ultimately makes the appointment.

“The vote went tremendously well,” said Liias, who formed an exploratory committee for the position in September, and flipped it to a campaign committee in November. “I’m fully expecting that the county is going to accept the party’s decision, and I’m beginning the process of transition.”

While Liias hasn’t been awarded the seat, he has clearly gained pole position. Both Sullivan and Cooper said it was “unlikely” that the council would rebuke the wishes of the party’s precinct officers.

Still, the County Council, which has four Democrats, will interview all three candidates before making its decision.

Chapman still has hope, he said. Smith did not respond to a request for comment.

“I am going to the County Council and seeing what they have to say. They are the ones going to make the decision,” Chapman said. “I have known them all for years, and I intend on talking to every one of them. Whatever they decide to do, they will decide to do.”

In 2004, the local Republican party voted for one candidate, but the county council selected another.

That doesn’t seem likely here, Sullivan said.

“If you are a Democrat, you need to listen to the Democrats,” he said Monday.

That is as true as ever in part because the 21st wasn’t the only district with an opening. John Lovick had to leave his 44th Legislative District seat when he was elected Snohomish County Sheriff in November.

Sullivan said it would be hard for the council to listen to the party in one race — and select former Snohomish mayor Liz Loomis, the party’s choice for the opening in the 44th — without also picking the party’s other choice, Liias.

Cooper agreed.

“The party leaders have spoken. That’s pretty clear,” Cooper said Monday, Dec. 17. “The likelihood that the council is going to appoint somebody other than what the party leadership has decided upon is pretty low. I just don’t see it in the cards.”

There wasn’t total agreement on that point.

State law requires the County Council to make this decision, said Democrat Dave Gossett, chair of the council. Gossett will incorporate the party’s wishes, but will base his decision on who he believes is best for the job, he said.

Voters will get the ultimate say. While the County Council will make an appointment in January, the seat will open in 2008.

Liias is definitely planning a run, he said. Chapman is considering one, too. Chapman has already raised $11,000 for a possible race, he said. He is still deciding whether or not to run a full-blown campaign, he said.

Liias is already beginning to focus on the residents in the 21st, which includes Edmonds and parts of Lynnwood and Mukilteo.

He has already met with city officials for each city, and wants to continue working with them and advancing their priorities, he said.

Though he’s young, Liias has been an active politician and Democrat.

He served as a member of the Snohomish County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board from 2003 to 2004, and as a member of the Snohomish County Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2006.

Liias has also served as an alternate board member for Community Transit, and as a representative to the Puget Sound Regional Council.

He says transportation and public education are his top priorities.

Mill Creek Enterprise editor Alexis Bacharach contributed to this report