By JANICE PODSADA
Herald Writer
Incumbents in the 21st Legislative District, which runs from Mukilteo to Woodway, swept to victory Tuesday.
Rep. Mike Cooper, D-Edmonds, running for House Position 1, handily dispensed with the opposition to win re-election to a third term.
Rep. Renee Radcliff, R-Mukilteo, seeking House Position 2 was re-elected to her fourth term.
Cooper, 48, defeated his two opponents, Republican Stan Monlux of Lynnwood and Libertarian Erica Merkley of Mukilteo.
Cooper credited his stance on transportation and education issues for keeping voters soundly in his camp.
"People are looking for a balanced solution that includes rail, not just roads," Cooper said. "And I’m focused on a balanced solution. Of course, the challenge is finding the revenue to do that.
"I’m excited that the initiative to increase teacher pay is passing," he added. "In order to recruit and retain good teachers we have to have a good pay scale."
Neither Monlux, 36, nor Merkley, 28, have ever held elected office.
Cooper, a firefighter with the Shoreline Fire Department, built his campaign on the issues surrounding transportation, education and local growth.
In the second House position, incumbent Radcliff was re-elected to a fourth term.
Radcliff, 41, former president and chief executive officer of the Everett Chamber of Commerce, defeated her two opponents, Democrat Ned Daniels, 51, and Libertarian Gordy Bohnke, 40. Daniels has been a Lynnwood City Council member for seven years, while Bohnke is a political newcomer.
"Transportation was really the biggie," Radcliff said, referring to the 21st District’s most pressing issue.
Radcliff credited her knowledge of transportation issues as the deciding factor in winning voter approval.
"In the opportunities (Daniels and I) had to speak together, I believe I was far more knowledgeable about the issues."
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