Walser plans 2008 challenge to Stevens
Published 10:00 pm Saturday, December 15, 2007
EVERETT — Fred Walser declared to a room full of Democrats on Saturday that he intends to run against incumbent state Sen. Val Stevens, R, Arlington in 2008.
Applause broke out when Walser made his announcement at a meeting of the Snohomish County Democratic Party at the Labor Temple in Everett.
Stevens has served in the state Legislature since 1992. She served two terms in the House of Representatives and is in her third term as senator in the 39th Legislative District, which includes east Snohomish County and parts of Skagit and Whatcom counties.
Walser is chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition and retired in August as police chief of Sultan. His wife is the mayor of Monroe.
Transportation, education and law enforcement will be the issues he focuses on, he said.
He’s also the subject of investigation into his handling of public records, employee access to police computers and other management issues.
Everett detectives looked into allegations of possible evidence tampering, obstruction, official misconduct and making false statements to a public servant.
Whatcom County prosecutors are reviewing their findings to determine if any action is warranted.
He said he doesn’t expect any but acknowledged the investigation “could be an issue if people choose to make it one.”
This is not Walser’s first run for public office.
In 1995, he lost to Patrick Murphy in a race for Snohomish County sheriff.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
