Former councilman Jeff Sax may try for state seat
Published 11:15 pm Saturday, January 9, 2010
For your Sunday morning, I offer a potpourri of politics with a heavy scent of Republican.
Jeff Sax is checking the temperature of the community and studying the weather vane of voter opinion to see if the climate is right for a return to politics.
The Republican and former Snohomish County councilman is telling friends and allies he’s interested in running for a state office and asking them if he’s crazy.
Though some in his party think he’s already decided, as of Friday, Sax insisted that’s not true.
“I’m looking to see how I’m perceived out there in the community. I’m in no hurry to make a decision. It may be a couple months,” he said.
Sax, who lives in the 44th Legislative District, defeated Dave Somers to join the County Council in 2001, then lost his re-election bid to Somers four years later.
He’s kept his nose in politics since leaving office. While he works in real estate today, he spent parts of 2008 and 2009 with the powerful Building Industry Association of Washington.
At this point, he is not only trying to decide whether to run but also which Democrat to go up against — state Sen. Steve Hobbs or Rep. Hans Dunshee.
Hobbs, who is in his first term, might seem vulnerable because of his lack of tenure. Hobbs has raised $100,000 and compiled a moderate voting record that would look attractive to political independents.
A Dunshee-Sax matchup, on the other hand, is undeniably more mouth-watering.
The philosophical divide between these two guys is so bright it’s radioactive. And they are freewheeling orators ever quick to say what’s on their mind without always minding their p’s and q’s.
But it’s not crystal clear what Dunshee will do later this year.
He’s acting like he’ll seek re-election while wondering aloud about retiring. Late last year, some teachers and health care workers started courting him to take on Hobbs, with whom they became upset for voting against bills backed by their unions.
Dunshee said Friday he’ll deal with all this after the legislative session. His voice peaked a bit at the mention of Sax.
“He would be a fun opponent, but I am not thinking about the elections right now,” he said.
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We’ll learn this week if one of the county’s best-known Republicans is making plans to run for Congress in 2010.
Snohomish County Councilman John Koster will reveal Wednesday whether he will challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen.
People started approaching Koster shortly after he won re-election in November to what will be his third and final council term. Backers even launched an online petition urging him into the race; as of Friday, 301 people had signed.
This would be an intriguing battle between two men who dueled for the same seat in Congress in 2000.
Larsen won that contest, finishing with 50.01 percent of the vote to Koster’s 45.93 percent. Two other candidates divided the remaining votes.
The announcement is set for 1 p.m. in the plaza of the county courthouse.
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While Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visits China this week, several of the Republican candidates who want her job will pass through Snohomish County.
Monday morning, Clint Didier, a Pasco farmer and former professional football player, is formally kicking off his campaign at the Everett Station.
Friday evening he and at least four other GOP hopefuls will be at the Medallion Hotel in Arlington for the year’s first opportunity to size up the talent in the corral of Republican candidates.
Expected to attend are Sean Salazar of Mountlake Terrace; Craig Williams of Vancouver; Arthur Coday of Shoreline and Chris Widener of Preston.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
