Two of the three state Legislature races in the 10th District remain close after Tuesday’s election, as well as one 1st District race and a fire district levy in Mill Creek.
The close calls include Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen. After 22 years in Olympia – 10 in the House and 12 in the Senate – Haugen finds herself in her tightest race in decades.
“I think my first one was like this,” she said.
As of Wednesday evening, Haugen had almost 50 percent of the tally, with 20,911 votes. Her Republican opponent, former Mount Vernon City Councilwoman April Axthelm, had 47.6 percent, with 19,912 votes.
In the 10th District’s race to fill outgoing Republican Barry Sehlin’s seat, Clinton Republican Chris Strow narrowly led with Democratic Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard with 50.3 percent of the vote. Conard had 47 percent.
Up to 15,000 votes remain to be counted in the district, which covers Island County, the Stanwood and Lakewood areas and the Skagit River delta.
Haugen said the 10th District is never easy for a Democrat.
“I’m always in the low 50s,” she said. “This district is pretty conservative, there’s no question about it.”
Axthelm said she knew ousting a strong incumbent such as Haugen would be tough. Axthelm cited her own experience as a teacher and business owner in her campaign.
“The other thing, too, is it’s a climate for change,” she said.
The trend statewide, however, is not favoring Republicans. Democrats were on track to maintain or expand their 52-46 majority in the House. In the Senate, Republicans were in danger of losing their one-vote majority as voters favored Democratic candidates in several swing districts.
Sehlin’s retirement drew attention from both major parties as they jockeyed for control.
“I expected it was going to be a close race just because it was an open seat,” said Conard, who prioritized health care, education and quality of life in her campaign.
Strow said his lead was probably because of his focus on job security and business issues.
“The thing I heard most when I went door to door with people has been their concern about their economic insecurity,” he said.
The next vote counts will be today in Island County, Friday in Snohomish County and Monday in Skagit County.
Fire District 7
In Mill Creek, city staff were biting their nails over a measure that would keep property owners directly paying for a portion of the cost of fire and emergency medical services.
It was passing by a narrow margin late Wednesday. The measure, which requires 60 percent to pass, led 60.06 percent to 39.94 percent. The numbers were 2,956 in favor and 1,966 against.
Since 1992, property owners have paid 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, costing the owner of a $200,000 home about $50 a year. Under this measure, property owners would continue to pay that rate.
The city pays about $1 million annually to the fire district for services, city finance director Joanne Gregory said. Taxpayers offset that by paying about $355,000 through the levy. If the measure fails, the city would have to find another way to cover that $355,000 cost.
1st District
Democrat Mark Ericks led Republican Joshua Freed 52 percent to 48 percent, or 22,316 votes to 20,613.
Freed called Ericks Wednesday morning to concede, but Ericks wasn’t ready to claim victory, saying there are ballots left to be counted.
“I don’t want to jinx it,” he said Wednesday. “That’s like changing your socks in the middle of a playoff series.”
Freed said he would “have to have a pretty significant turnaround to make it close.”
Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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