This week begins Round 1 in The Politician vs. The Magician.
Snohomish County voters get their first chance to weigh in on the race for county executive between Republican newcomer Jack Turk and Democratic incumbent Aaron Reardon.
Even Turk acknowledges it is a mismatched contest.
They’re competing to win a job that will pay more than $138,000 next year. The county executive oversees thousands of county employees and a budget of more than $700 million.
Reardon, 36, has a political career spanning more than eight years. He served four years as a state representative and one year as a state senator before he was elected county executive in 2003.
Turk, 50, is a business owner from Snohomish who worked different writing and management jobs over a decade at Microsoft.
He is also a magician and hopes to make votes for Reardon disappear.
However, it’s Turk who has been mostly invisible. He entered the race in May a few months after Reardon’s challenger – Sheriff Rick Bart – dropped out.
Turk admits he’s outgunned.
“I have no money for signs,” Turk said. “I’m a rookie. I’m a writer, a businessman, a magician. I’m not a politician. I’m not active in the party.”
Turk has started mapping out positions on transportation and economic development, and is drafting his vision for Snohomish County.
One of his only campaign appearances so far was scheduled for Saturday at the GOP annual picnic, but the event was canceled because of a scheduling glitch. Turk had planned to perform magic tricks and speak briefly about his campaign.
Reardon, of Everett, has been the CEO of county government for nearly four years. He’s raised about $265,000 for his re-election campaign.
This month alone, Reardon has been seen fighting graffiti, cutting the ribbon at an off-leash dog park and stumping for the $17.8 billion transportation measure on the fall ballot.
Reardon said that during his tenure, the county has gained better control over its spending.
“We’ve proven we can manage Snohomish County government effectively and efficiently,” Reardon said. “We are as efficient as we can be, but always need to look for better ways to serve the citizens.”
He’s openly credited with being politically savvy, a sharp dresser and a quick study.
But Reardon is criticized by the County Council as a poor communicator. In response, the council this spring stripped Reardon of most of his contract signing authority above $5,000.
Turk said he’s running a guerrilla campaign as the outside candidate. He said he hopes to win over voters with his experience as an entrepreneur.
“People are interviewing me for potential,” Turk said. “I am still coming up to speed on issues in the county.
“Most of (Aaron’s) career has been in government,” Turk added. “He’s a very skilled politician, and experienced.
“I’m definitely the square peg in the round hole.”
The primary election results used to qualify as a decent beauty contest, a way for candidates to figure out their base of support going into the general election.
And though about 330,000 primary ballots are heading out in the mail, few are putting much stock in the results.
Turnout is expected to be about 30 percent, in part because the primary is in the dead of summer for the first time. Voters are vacationing, not worrying about who will run county government for the next four years.
The two candidates are on the primary ballot because state law requires it, and the race won’t be decided until the general election in November.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
County executive
The county executive manages county government for four years and will earn about $138,700 in 2008.
AARON REARDON
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Incumbent county executive
Age: 36
City: Everett
JACK TURK
Party: Republican
Occupation: Business owner, magician
Age: 50
City: Snohomish
Snohomish County local voter pamphlets head out in the mail Wednesday, and primary ballots follow Thursday. Ballots are due Aug. 21. The county plans to open ballot drop-off locations across the county.
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