Haakenson’s opponent unclear in Edmonds mayoral race

Published 11:35 pm Tuesday, August 21, 2007

EDMONDS — Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson appeared Tuesday night as if he would defend his seat in the November general election, but it’s unclear who he will be running against.

Haakenson, who took office in January 2000, was winning Tuesday’s primary election 57.6 percent of the vote.

Behind Haakenson, City Councilwoman Mauri Moore held a small lead over city engineer Don Fiene, separated by just 134 votes after the first round of ballots were counted Tuesday night.

Haakenson said he was pleased by the initial results, and that he’ll be watching to see who he faces on Nov. 6.

“We’ll watch to see who the winner is, and then we’ll design the rest of the campaign by who that might be,” he said.

Moore, a longtime television news producer, garnered 22.2 percent of the count. Fiene, who works with Haakenson at City Hall, collected 19.9 percent.

If she makes the ballot, she’s optimistic about unseating the mayor. “It’s encouraging to me because (Tuesday’s election) was actually a 42-percent negative vote against the mayor,” Moore said.

Fiene said he’s not counting himself out of the running yet: “I’d rather be 130 votes ahead.”

Lake Stevens

In Lake Stevens City Council’s lone contested race, incumbent Stephen Brooks, 50, appeared headed toward losing his seat to challengers John Spencer, 60 and Kerry Watkins, 45. Spencer was leading with 41 percent of the vote, followed by Watkins with 32 percent and Brooks with 27 percent. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Spencer worked on the recent successful campaigns to add Frontier Village and Soper Hill to the city. Watkins, a Boeing mechanic and National Guard captain, challenges the city’s planned civic campus. Brooks, an engineer, seeks his second term on the council.

Lynnwood

A pair of challengers to the longest-serving member of the Lynnwood City Council were separated by just two votes after ballots were counted Tuesday night. Local pastor Christopher Boyer earned 25.5 percent of the count. Planning commissioner Maria Ambalada garnered 25.4 percent of the count. The incumbent, City Councilman Jim Smith, was winning with 48.9 percent. Smith, who has served 20 years on the council, will face either Boyer or Ambalada.

Mill Creek

Mark Harmsworth, a software team manager, was the leading vote-getter among three candidates for Mill Creek City Council Position 5. Harmsworth finished with 44.6 percent of the count, followed by mental health professional Chuck Wright, who earned 33.7 percent of the count. The two will likely face off for the seat in the Nov. 6 general election.

Gold Bar

Two political newcomers were leading an incumbent City Council member. Susan Forbes, 51, and Jay Prueher, 62, were leading City Councilman Robert Amenn, 41.

Sultan

Voters apparently have chosen city council candidates Sarah Davenport-Smith and Richard Hill to advance to the general election in November. They were winning over Brady Boucher, 33.