OLYMPIA – Groans echoed through the packed 55-passenger bus Tuesday as it rolled along I-5 to Everett.
The passengers had just attended a rally at the state Capitol calling for a second vote to give Republican Dino Rossi another chance to capture the governor’s chair.
Dullain Ehrlich of Mill Creek used the bus public address system to notify the die-hard Republicans that the Legislature had just turned down a GOP bid to delay certification of Democrat Christine Gregoire, who will be sworn in as governor today.
Michael V. Martina / The Herald
“That’s incredible,” came a voice from the back of the bus, although most knew the rally on the Capitol lawn was directed less at the partisan Legislature than at public opinion and the judges who ultimately may decide who won the gubernatorial race.
“To the courts,” said someone else bent on getting a second election.
There was some disappointment, but an even greater sense of resolve in the voices. They had been energized in joining hundreds of other orange-clad Republicans from throughout the area who chanted for a second vote.
Those who didn’t have orange clothing wore orange ribbons, a color that symbolized protesters in Ukraine who recently won reform measures there.
Speakers charged that the governor’s race was filled with election errors so serious as to undermine the public’s confidence in the system. They allege that dead people voted, and cited military members serving abroad who either didn’t receive absentee ballots or received them too late.
Michael V. Martina / The Herald
They also singled out heavily Democratic King County as having election irregularities such as extra ballots. Rossi lost by just 129 votes the third time the votes were counted – a statewide hand recount of all 2.8 million-some ballots.
The Republicans carried signs such as “Revote or revolt.” A repeated chant of “revote, revote, revote” echoed through the Capitol campus.
Across the street, separated by a line of Washington State Patrol troopers, a couple of hundred Gregoire supporters taunted the GOP speakers and carried signs of their own proclaiming the Republicans “sore losers.”
One of them, Sabrina Weiner of Lynnwood, is a Naval reserve officer. She was outraged that Rossi’s constituency is “using the military as pawns.” She said Rossi supporters are misrepresenting the situation with soldiers serving overseas.
“What bothers me is that they’re waiting until now to say it,” Weiner said. “They weren’t there standing on the Capitol steps with us both times during the recount.
“I am angry that they are being selective on when to play the military card, and it’s not fair to our troops.”
James Moore of Shoreline worked on the King County recount, and he’s upset that the work there is under attack.
“It angers me that I accurately counted 40,000 votes, and they are alleging the rules weren’t followed,” Moore said. “It’s very simple. The process was clean. Now let it play out.”
On the Republican side of the street, John Campbell of Marysville said the rally gave him “a shot in the arm.”
The rally speakers, as well as a recent newspaper editorial, convinced him that his opinion was correct and another vote is needed.
“That made me decide I’m on the right side on the revote,” Campbell said.
Steve Neighbors, Snohomish County GOP chairman, would have been surprised if the Democratic-controlled House had delayed certification of Gregoire. The rally did serve a purpose, though, he said.
Besides sending a message to elected officials, “It allows all these people with pent-up energy to come down here and express themselves,” Neighbors said.
Besides, he added, the rally could be the kickoff for Rossi’s new campaign, if a second vote is ordered.
The rally was a good thing for Republicans in general, Henry Ackekrman of Mukilteo said.
“I think (the Republicans) finally said enough is enough, and let’s show we have some power,” Ackerman said. “We’re showing solidarity as a party. We have to stop the Democrats from walking over us.”
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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