Derek Sanford (left) and (from top) Davina Duerr, Hillary Moralez and Darshan Rauniyar.

Derek Sanford (left) and (from top) Davina Duerr, Hillary Moralez and Darshan Rauniyar.

A Senate seat is on the line and the dominos are set to fall

Rep. Stanford seems a shoo-in for the appointment. There’s a drama brewing for his job in the House.

OLYMPIA — There’s little dispute Democratic Party leaders want state Rep. Derek Stanford to fill a vacant Senate seat in the 1st Legislative District.

Stanford, a soft-spoken progressive in his fifth term, emerged earlier this month as the overwhelming choice to replace Guy Palumbo as senator for communities in south Snohomish and north King counties. Palumbo resigned in May to take a job lobbying for Amazon.

There’s a bit of drama building around who should get Stanford’s seat.

Davina Duerr, a Bothell City Councilwoman, Hillary Moralez, the chairwoman of the Snohomish County Democratic Party, and Darshan Rauniyar, a party activist are the nominees put forth by the party’s precinct committee officers (PCOs) following a June 9 meeting.

Duerr secured the top slot though it took three rounds of balloting to get there. She and Moralez tied in the second tally. Then one person changed their allegiance, swinging the outcome Duerr’s way.

On July 1, members of the Snohomish and King county councils will hold a joint meeting at Bothell City Hall to make some decisions. If Stanford gets the nod for the Senate seat as expected, then those political bodies will install someone in the House job.

At this point, a person in Moralez’s position as county party leader would usually ask that the preferred choice of the PCOs be selected.

But Moralez isn’t doing that. She’s wants the legislative gig. She is campaigning hard to get it, declaring on Facebook “The fight isn’t over” and urging supporters to lobby members of the two councils on her behalf.

Her bid is creating a little discomfort with some fellow Democrats. Close vote aside, they feel the party should always be united behind the top choice for an appointed position.

“I know there’s a little consternation. I know some people think I need to wait my turn,” Moralez said. “I am going to run this as a real campaign until the process is finished.”

Duerr is taking a less aggressive approach thus far. She said she’s reached out to county council members, offering to sit down and chat with them about her qualifications. Other than that, she said she’s going to let it play out.

“It’s become competitive. There’s been some controversy,” she said with a tinge of disappointment in her voice. “I’m trying to stay above the fray.”

The outcome is far from clear. A couple recent appointments in Snohomish County ended with council members bypassing the preferred choice of political party activists.

In September 2017, Republican Carolyn Eslick was named to a vacant House seat in the 39th Legislative District even though she ranked lowest among the three Republican Party nominees. Elizabeth Scott, a former state lawmaker, was the GOP’s top choice.

In February 2016, Palumbo received the most support to fill a vacancy on the Snohomish County Council. But the council’s three Democratic members chose Hans Dunshee, the runner-up, instead. Later that year, Palumbo won his Senate seat while Dunshee lost his council job.

Duerr is aware of how the process can turn out.

“It’s not a slam dunk,” she said.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.