Despite changes, vote goes smoothly

  • By Scott North and Jim Haley / Herald Writers
  • Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:00pm
  • Local NewsLocal news

Some voters held their noses, others reveled in an exercise that was purely partisan, but in the end it doesn’t appear as if the state’s first closed primary election in 70 years rattled the way votes were cast Tuesday in Snohomish County.

Because of court decisions, voters were required to pick their candidates for most state and federal offices from only one political party.

Voters picked a preference – Republican, Democrat or Libertarian – in about 90 percent of the 86,859 ballots counted so far, county Auditor Bob Terwilliger said Wednesday.

Some officials feared that restrictions on the primary would keep many voters at home and trigger anger among those who showed up at that the polls. Neither forecast proved true, Terwilliger said.

Up to 40,000 additional absentee mail-in ballots are expected to be counted on Friday. That means about 35 percent of the county’s 330,000 registered voters participated in the primary, a turnout typical in a presidential election year, Terwilliger said.

Election workers received training in advance of the primary on how to defuse any angry confrontations.

“In the end, it was preventative, but not necessary, Terwilliger said. “The voters were pretty polite.”

That’s doesn’t mean they were pleased to find their candidate choices limited, judging from comments offered by members of The Herald’s Reader Network.

“I did not enjoy voting only one party’s ballot at all,” Mark Mahnkey, 55, of Silver Lake, said. “There are good candidates on both sides of the aisle, and I was usurped from expressing my support if they appeared on a ballot I did not vote. I found it distasteful, and I felt used, abused, upbraided, strung out, strung along, jacked around and disenfranchised.”

Chris Knapp, 39, of Everett, said he found the new primary format frustrating in part because “it constrains the independent spirit of Washington voters.”

“Worst ballot ever!” said Travis Hall, 27, of Gold Bar. “It chooses the rights of the party over the rights of the people, which is never a good thing.”

Charlene Dickey, 73, of Oak Harbor, and Jeanne Rickey, 61, of Mill Creek, both found the single-party ballot layouts complex or confusing.

Others were either happy to find a voting system similar to what they’ve known in other states, or surprised by the uproar.

Gloria Foster, 60, of Everett, said she thought the new ballots were easy to use and didn’t change how she votes.

“I honestly didn’t see what all the fuss was about,” said Sheri Croft, 40, of Everett. “For me, it was not difficult to figure out how to fill out the ballot. Also, I usually vote one party only, so that wasn’t a problem for me, either.”

Tuesday’s election pared the field for the political parties, but two contested nonpartisan positions were settled by the vote. Voters elected Michael Downes and Eric Lucas as Snohomish County Superior Court judges.

Lucas upended three-term incumbent David Hulbert of Lake Stevens, the first time in memory an established Superior Court judge has been voted out of office. Hulbert could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Everett lawyer Frank Wilson, who was on Hulbert’s election steering committee, said the campaign’s oversight of not sending in a photo and statement for a local voter’s pamphlet hurt the 12-year veteran’s chances.

“I don’t think that helped at all,” Wilson said. “There’s not anything good that comes from the person reading that.”

He said there was confusion over whether local and state voter pamphlets would include the judges. Both were produced, and Hulbert’s information was in the state pamphlet but not in the one sent to voters by the county auditor.

Lucas won’t take office until early January.

Downes, of Everett, was appointed by the governor to the post in July, but had to stand for election to retain his seat on the bench. Michael Hall, a general practice lawyer from Edmonds, ran against him.

A 21-year veteran of the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, Downes received high marks in a recent poll of county lawyers.

Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

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.