Three recognized Demo-crat activists are already vying to succeed state Rep. John Lovick should he win this year’s race for county sheriff.

Former Snohomish Mayor Liz Loomis, Snohomish County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hintz and 2006 state senate candidate Lillian Kaufer are gathering support for an appointment to the seat if it opens up.

Loomis is setting the pace. She went out and garnered endorsements from the Northwest Building Trades Council and the Snohomish County Labor Council.

“I believe in being prepared,” she explained.

On May 23, the Snohomish County labor organization voted to back her. In the same meeting, members voiced their desire to also consider endorsements for Kaufer and Hintz.

Mike Sells, secretary-treasurer of the labor council and a state representative, said the group could back all three.

Political jockeying of this magnitude is pretty early and, a few quietly suggest, might be a bit presumptuous.

Monday is the first day Lovick, sheriff’s chief Tom Greene and sheriff’s Lt. Rob Beidler – the announced candidates so far -can file to run. The victor won’t be decided until November.

Under state law, if Lovick wins and resigns his 44th Legislative District seat, the Snohomish County Council will choose a temporary successor from among three names given it by the district’s Democrats. That person would serve in 2007 and stand for election in 2008.

Precinct committee officers, better known as PCOs, vote on which three names to recommend. In the 44th District, there are about 215 precincts with officers serving in about 80 of them as of last week.

As chairman, Hintz fills vacancies. He’s appointed 31 new PCOs since January. A further swelling of the ranks is expected as he, Loomis and Kaufer recruit their supporters to sign up and become eligible to vote later.

All this effort, Hintz said, “has no value until John wins.”

Walser considers politics

Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser will retire from law enforcement in August and may start a new career in politics soon after.

Walser is contemplating a run for state representative or senator in 2008.

This week, he said he’s talking to people to see whether or not he’d be a good candidate.

He’d run as a Democrat. That’s a cause for celebration among party insiders because Walser lives in the 39th Legislative District, where all three legislative seats are held by Republicans.

But Walser is friends with Reps. Kirk Pearson and Dan Kristiansen and Sen. Val Stevens, making it a difficult personal decision to challenge any of them.

Of course, if Walser steers clear of seeking office, he may work to influence those who are in power. He’d focus on what’s become his primary issue – making U.S. 2 safer for drivers.

“There’s not enough action on it in Olympia.”

Reporter Jerry Cornfield’s column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Monday on the Morning Show on KSER 90.7 FM. He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.