ARLINGTON — In some parts of the 2nd Congressional District, it’s a battle between Koster and Larsen.
In Arlington, it’s a race between John and Rick.
Many people here say they wish they could elect both men — Rick Larsen, the Democratic incumbent, and John Koster, the Republican challenger.
Stretching from Mukilteo to the Canadian border, the huge 2nd Congressional District takes in all of Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island counties, most of Snohomish County and part of King County.
These two guys come from Arlington, graduated from Arlington High School and are called by their first names when they walk around the town where they grew up.
The candidates’ families each have lived in Arlington for close to a century. Because of that, some people marvel at the fact that the Kosters and the Larsens aren’t related.
Larsen’s mother, Yolanda Rosenbach Larsen, baby-sat Koster when he was an infant and her family’s farm was a short distance from the Koster dairy. That’s about as close as it got.
While there is great pride in Arlington because both candidates are hometown boys, there also exists some embarrassment, said David Boulton, an Arlington native and owner of the Flowers by George floral shop.
“It’s very hard to see the constant bashing. On both sides,” Boulton said. “I went all through school with Rick and we graduated together in 1983. My father did the flowers for Johns wedding and we did the flowers for Ricks wedding. We think highly of both families.”
So do the folks at City Hall.
“Rick and John both have been there for us,” city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said. “Putting politics aside, they and their families are liked in Arlington because they’ve gone to bat for this community. This race is not an issue that’s dividing the town. Instead, lots of people are truly torn.”
Boulton expects the race to come down to a hand count.
“I guess people in Arlington appreciate that whoever wins, this town has somebody in Washington, D.C.,” Boulton said. “But it’s really too bad the race got ugly. That’s been hard on the community.”
Julie Tate’s barbershop and styling salon on Olympic Avenue in downtown Arlington is decorated with bulletin boards completely covered with photos of her clients. She said Koster and Larsen aren’t customers, but in 24 years Tate has cut the hair of generations of Arlington folks.
“Some of the older gentlemen who frequent her shop like to talk politics, and the outspoken ones are Republican,” Tate said. “But most people know what they believe and don’t talk about it much. This is a small town and people like to work together. Its too bad there has to be a loser.”
What Tate doesn’t like about the congressional race are the TV commercials and other campaign ads produced by both candidates and by their supporters.
“I’m glad its almost over,” Tate said.
Larsen, 45, a former Snohomish County councilman, was first elected to Congress in 2000. His opponent that year was Koster, a state legislator then and a county councilman now. This year, as in 2000, the fact that Koster, 58, did well in the mid-term primary election has given the race some national prominence.
In the final weeks of the campaign, Larsen, who now lives in the Everett area, and Koster, who still lives in Arlington, each have said they hope people in their hometown look at the issues when they fill out their ballots. The candidates acknowledge they have mutual friends and acquaintances, but are eager that people base their decisions on what’s best for the country.
Out along southbound lanes of I-5 at Island Crossing, a Koster sign and a Larsen sign sit side-by-side in the back yard of Toby Strotz’s old family place.
“Yolanda (Larsen) called me up and asked if I’d put a campaign sign for Rick (Larsen) in the yard. Of, course, I told her yes. We’ve done it every year he’s run for Congress,” Strotz said. “Then John (Koster) called up my sister Christie (Jacobs). They graduated together from Arlington High in ‘69 and they are friends. She can’t tell him he can’t put a sign there.”
Strotz, too, dislikes the public animosity between the two candidates.
“The worst basher is the real loser,” he said.
Koster grew up two farms over from Strotz. Though Koster is about six years older, Strotz remembers summers swimming in the Stilly with Koster. As a county councilman, Koster helped Strotz with some zoning issues.
Currently, Larsen is working with a Strotz family friend from Arlington with her fiance’s difficulty in emigrating from the United Kingdom.
“Rick’s all over it. He looks out for the little guy,” Strotz said. “There’s a lot of good to be said about both men. Let the people decide.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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