It all comes down to two legislative district races

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

Snohomish County voters will hold the political shape of the 2002 Legislature in their hands when they go to the polls Tuesday to select representatives in two districts.

Either the Republicans or the Democrats could rule the House of Representatives, a move that would break the 49-49 tie that led to legislative gridlock last spring when it came to such things as solving the state’s transportation mess.

Democrats already have a slim majority in the state Senate.

Just two seats are up for grabs in the entire state this year due to vacancies that necessitated special elections. The effect has been the spending of a lot of energy and a lot of money on races in the 21st and 38th legislative districts.

For example, dozens of Republicans from around the state were scheduled to fan out over the two districts to ring doorbells on behalf of their standard-bearers this weekend. The two districts stretch from Marysville to Woodway.

Gov. Gary Locke and U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Jay Inslee, all Democrats, have already been on the doorbell trail in an attempt to woo 21st District voters.

Don’t be surprised if you get a phone call in the days before the election from one political party or another urging you to vote Tuesday.

In addition, the money has flowed freely, trying to get you to pick one candidate over the other.

All the effort is emblematic of how important the political parties and others view the two races, where both appointed incumbents face stiff opposition. In many observers’ eyes, the two races also have become something of a referendum on whether the voters want the Republicans or Democrats to control things in Olympia.

Rep. Joe Marine, R-Mukilteo, faces off against former Mukilteo Mayor Brian Sullivan for the Position 2 seat in the 21st District, which includes southwest Snohomish County. Green Party candidate Young Han and Libertarian Michael Enquist also will be on the ballot.

In the 38th District, appointed Rep. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, faces a challenge from Erv Hoglund, an Everett Republican. Voters in Marysville and Everett make up the district. Libertarian Thomas Kinnebrew also is on the ballot.

The spending surge has been intense in recent days, with both the Democrats and Republicans flooding mailboxes with fliers lauding and calling attention to purported flaws in the opponents’ thinking or allegiance.

The state Republican Party figures it will spend $300,000 in its attempt to get Marine and Hoglund elected, party chairman Chris Vance said. The Democrats will be close behind, shelling out $250,000 for Sullivan and Berkey, party chairman Paul Berendt said.

"Some people who have been around a long time in the party tell me we’ve never spent money like this before," Vance said.

That money, plus tens of thousands of dollars spent by independent organizations, can be added to the $750,000 raised by the candidates themselves, according to state records as of last week.

Besides control of the House next session, both parties are looking ahead to 2002, when elected incumbents are expected to have a better chance of holding on to their seats.

The political parties and editorialists have been calling on voters to help solve the lack of movement last session by breaking the tie in the House. Even the candidates concede that the 49-49 tie didn’t work.

"We want government to work the best it can," Berendt said. "It works better when there’s a majority one way or the other."

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447

or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.

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