OLYMPIA – Forces seeking a new vote for governor will shift their pressure campaign from cyberspace to the grounds of the Capitol today.
Nearly 200,000 people have signed an online petition urging a runoff between Democratic Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi. Copies will be delivered to state legislative leaders and Supreme Court justices.
“We’re trying to persuade opinion and get a revote. They’re the top court, and they’re elected officials,” said Sharon Gilpin, the author and a former paid Rossi adviser.
Delivery of the petition will precede a morning rally on the Capitol campus where foot soldiers of the growing revote movement will protest today the Legislature’s certification of Gregoire as governor.
Rossi’s campaign organized the rally, but he is not expected to attend. Snohomish County Republicans are busing several dozen people to the event. Democrats plan a small counter-rally at the Capitol.
“The Democrats have a choice,” Gilpin said. “They can try and legislate with this cloud hanging over who won the election. Or they can make the statesman’s choice and have a revote.”
Today’s events are part of a spreading battle to win the hearts and minds of residents and the influence of lawmakers and justices, who may have the final say on whether another election will be held.
ReVote Washington, the group created by Gilpin, is driving the effort with its petition that went online Dec. 30.
The group raised $35,000 its first week and this past weekend spent $30,000 of it on television advertising in Seattle, Yakima and Spokane soliciting signatures and urging voters to contact their legislators.
In the meantime, the Building Industry Association of Washington bought full-page ads in newspapers in recent days trumpeting the call. The ad asserts that if the Ukraine can hold another election, Washington can too.
In response, the Washington State Labor Council and Service Employees International Union phoned union members this weekend urging them to call their representatives to oppose a revote.
“We feel the vast majority of people are ready to move on, but the legislators are only hearing from riled-up Republicans,” said David Groves, spokesman for the state labor council. “We don’t want any legislator thinking there aren’t people out there who support certifying the election. There are.”
And the state Democratic Party spent $50,000 on radio ads that ran from Friday to Sunday. The 60-second spot featured Gov. Gary Locke calling it a close but fair election.
“Every ballot that was legitimately cast was counted. It’s now time to move on,” he says in the ad.
Gregoire is scheduled to deliver her inaugural address at noon Wednesday.
Last week Rossi sued to set aside Gregoire’s 129-vote victory, claiming miscues and possible wrongdoing in ballot counting raised doubts on whether she won. The challenge was filed in Chelan County and a hearing could be held as early as next week.
In the meantime, more is being learned about the cost of the recount for the state Republican and Democratic parties.
The state Republican Party raised nearly $420,000 in December to pay for expenses related to the hand recount, according to documents filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission. The report that was due by midnight Monday detailed contributions and expenditures in the month of December.
The state Democratic Party had not filed its report by late Monday. Party spokeswoman Kirsin Brost said it would show contributions of about $1 million, much of it used for the initial payment for the hand recount.
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