Herald staff

Gov. Gary Locke has taken exception to a campaign mailer put out by a legislative candidate from Marysville, according to a Locke spokesman.

The photo in question is of Locke with Allen Huang and his family and was included in a mailer titled "Bringing Common Sense to Politics and Power Back to the People." The caption below the photo states it was taken at a 1996 victory party for Locke.

Locke spokesman Ed Penhale did not question the source of the photo, but said its use implied Democrat Locke’s endorsement of Huang, a Republican running for a House seat in the 38th District against incumbent Rep. Aaron Reardon, D-Everett.

"We object to use of the photo for that reason," Penhale said. "The governor does not endorse Mr. Huang. He endorses Reardon."

Huang said he didn’t have that intention in mind.

"I didn’t even think of it," he said, adding that he used the photo because he was inspired by the political success of Locke, who is of Chinese descent. Huang was raised in China and immigrated to the United States 12 years ago.

"I wanted to show people that we Chinese-Americans, like everybody else, embrace this country of freedom and democracy and stand up and fight for it," Huang said.

Reardon’s campaign manager, Mike Hopkins, said in a press release: "We are not paying attention to this guy and his negative campaign tactics. We are focusing on the issues that matter to the citizens of Snohomish County."

The race has become increasingly bitter, with both sides accusing each other of intimidation.