Candidates find out today if they’ve won

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

For a candidate only 3 percentage points behind the front-runner, Erv Hoglund said Thursday he’s been very calm while waiting for the final votes to be counted in Tuesday’s general election.

He started the day at the dentist, and then went to help unload a truck for a food bank. He hopes to soon get back out on the golf course, something he didn’t have time for during the campaign.

Hoglund hasn’t conceded to his opponent, state Rep. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, but he has resigned himself to the likelihood that he will not catch up.

"With the campaign I ran, I did all I could do, and it’s up to the voters," Hoglund said. "I have no problems. This is a political event and not a life-threatening event."

Hoglund’s calmness came a day before the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office counts an additional 45,000 ballots — all mail-in votes received Tuesday or afterward.

The Republican is only 658 votes behind Berkey, and there are 8,947 from the 38th District to be counted in this batch. But election officials said it would take an unusual turn in the previous vote-tally trend for Hoglund to catch up.

In the 21st Legislative District, Democrat Brian Sullivan remains about 2,900 votes ahead of state Rep. Joe Marine, R-Mukilteo, with more than 9,000 to be counted today.

If both Democrats win, it will break the 49-49 party tie in the House of Representatives and give their party control.

The 45,000 ballots will make it clearer who won and who lost in a variety of other close elections around the county. Altogether, nearly 99,000 absentee ballots will be counted in this election — about two-thirds of all those who voted.

Hoglund had been hoping for a large turnout, one in which more Republicans came out to vote, he said. That would make his climb out of the hole a lot easier, but 3 percent is a large deficit.

"I’m a realist," Hoglund said. "It’s doable, and it’s been done before. But in the (traditionally Democratic) 38th District, I’m not holding my breath."

Besides, Hoglund said he might not even want the job, because Democrat Sullivan unseated Marine. With that defeat, even if Hoglund could pull a come-from-behind victory, it would still mean a 49-49 tie in the House. That would lead to another long and rancorous session.

"We’re planning a trip to Italy April 2," Hoglund said. "Where would you rather be April 2? In Italy or fighting in Olympia?"

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447

or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.

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