Primary races, countywide sales tax hike are big items on ballot

Published 1:30 am Sunday, July 31, 2016

EVERETT — One of the more pivotal primaries in recent memory draws to a close Tuesday with voters deciding tax measures and choosing finalists for legislative and congressional seats representing people living in Snohomish County.

County Auditor Carolyn Weikel said she thinks roughly a third of the county’s 440,000 registered voters will participate, though only 50,113 voters had returned their ballots as of Friday morning. That works out to 11.4 percent.

“This means that people are really going to have to get busy and vote and turn them in,” she said.

Weikel said some people may interpret low turnout as a sign of voters’ general satisfaction. She doesn’t.

“I would argue people aren’t happy with the way things are but the question is why aren’t they voting,” she said. “This is their opportunity to truly have their voices heard as they vote for candidates to go forward to the general election. They are choosing the people who could impact their lives on a daily basis.”

It is hard to oversell what’s at stake. A slew of tax measures could affect pocketbooks countywide. With crowds of candidates seeking jobs in the Legislature, Congress and statewide office, voters will set the line-up heading to November.

Richard Wright, chairman of the Snohomish County Democratic Party, attributed the low turnout entering the final weekend to voters needing to spend more time studying up on the candidates and measures.

“If you send out a 100-item ballot,” he said, “it slows down turnout as people are trying to research everything on it.”

Billye Brooks Sebastiani, chairwoman of the county Republican Party, said though she’s been disappointed with the slow pace of returns, she anticipates a surge on Election Day.

“I’ve had more people coming into our office looking for recommendations than I have had in previous elections,” she said.

Ballots can be put in one of the 12 drop boxes scattered around Snohomish County until 8 p.m. Election Day. These do not require postage. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday to be counted.

It is a long ballot. The first item before voters in Snohomish County is Proposition 1, which would increase the sales tax countywide by two-tenths of a penny. A simple majority is required for passage.

If approved, the new tax is projected to generate about $25 million per year. The county would keep 60 percent with the other 40 percent divvied up among the 20 cities in Snohomish County, based on population.

The Snohomish County Council put the measure on the ballot. Supporters have vowed the biggest chunk of the county’s share would be spent to hire sheriff’s deputies and deputy prosecutors. Money also would be used to assist the homeless, expand the community’s fight against an epidemic of heroin and add drug and alcohol treatment beds.

The ballot also features contests for federal and state offices in which the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the general election in November, regardless of political affiliation.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, faces a field of 16 opponents in her bid for another term. Republican Chris Vance is the best known of them.

U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene and Rick Larsen, both Democrats, are each facing four challengers as they pursue re-election representing Snohomish County in the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, respectively.

And in the 7th Congressional District, which includes a sliver of south Snohomish County, there is a fierce contest among nine candidates seeking to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott.

All nine statewide executive offices are on the ballot including governor, where Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, is up against 10 foes, including Republican Bill Bryant.

Retirements are creating openings in five statewide jobs. As a result, crowds of candidates are jostling to secure a finish in the top two to advance.

For example, 11 people, including state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, are competing for lieutenant governor. Nine candidates are vying for state Superintendent of Public Instruction and five hopefuls for state Auditor. Another five candidates, including state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, are running for treasurer.

In legislative races, seats in seven districts that take in areas of Snohomish County are on the ballot.

One of those, the contest to succeed state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell in the 1st Legislative District, is evoking interest from outside the community. Rep. Luis Moscoso, of Bothell, and Guy Palumbo, of Maltby, both Democrats, and Mindie Wirth, a Republican, are battling to move on.

In recent days an independent political committee, Voters for Washington Children, has spent tens of thousands of dollars on mailers to voters endorsing Palumbo. It has also spent at least $15,000 for online ads against Moscoso.

Three groups known for their support of charter schools — Stand for Children, Washington Charters and Democrats for Education Reform —,are providing the money.

Palumbo supports charter schools while Moscoso is endorsed by the state teacher’s union, the leading opponent of the publicly financed, privately run schools.

Voters also have decisions involving the judicial system.

Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen faces two opponents in the primary while four candidates are vying for a seat that will open on the bench of the Snohomish County Superior Court at the end of the year.

And there are tax measures in Mountlake Terrace, Mill Creek, Marysville and four fire districts that will be decided.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Ballot drop-off locations

Here are the locations of boxes where Snohomish County ballots can be dropped off postage-free:

Arlington (near library), 135 N. Washington Ave.

Bothell (QFC parking lot) 22833 Bothell Everett Hwy.

Edmonds (near library), 650 Main St.

Everett (Courthouse Campus), Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street.

Everett (at McCollum Park), 600 128th St. SE.

Lake Stevens (near the city boat launch), 1800 Main St.

Lynnwood (in front of City Hall), 19100 44th Ave.

Marysville (behind City Hall), 1049 State Ave.

Monroe (near library), 1070 Village Way.

Mukilteo (near library), 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.

Snohomish (near library), 311 Maple Ave.

Stanwood (near library), 9701 271st St. NW.

Voters also can turn in completed ballots at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office until 8 p.m. Tuesday. It is located, on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.

More info: www.snoco.org/elections or call 425-388-3444.