After the withdrawal of a candidate in the race for Shoreline City Council Position 1, early returns are essentially available.
Incumbent John Chang and newcomer Keith McGlashan are headed to the general election, with a primary election no longer necessary to eliminate a candidate.
Resident Norine Federow, 59, withdrew from the race, saying she supports Chang and did not want to complicate the race with a primary election.
“I withdrew from the election because there were two like minds there,” Federow said. “John Chang and I are very simpatico.”
Federow’s political background includes running for state representative as a Republican in 1996. She officially withdrew from the Shoreline race on Aug. 1, after a withdrawal form was faxed to the King County elections office.
There was some confusion, however, as to the legitimacy of her withdrawal form. Federow said on the bottom of the form was a space for a notary, which was not completed before the form was faxed to the elections office. After she signed the form, Federow was still debating whether to resign.
“I was still wondering about it,” Federow said. “But once the die is cast, that is the way it is.”
Elections officials had a lengthy conversation with Federow regarding the validity of her withdrawal form, said spokesperson Bobbie Egan. Federow called the elections office on Aug. 11, Egan said, inquiring if she was still a candidate. Elections staff confirmed that she had formally withdrawn.
“Her name will not be on the ballot,” Egan said, “she did withdraw her candidacy.”
Egan said the withdrawal form was not notarized, which was Federow’s reasoning for not being officially withdrawn. Egan acknowledged the statement of notary requirement is not required and has since been removed from the form.
“Mrs. Federow acknowledged she had signed the withdrawal form, but stated that she didn’t want to make a big deal of the situation,” Egan said. “She said she would let it go if she could get a refund on the $84 candidate fee.”
The deadline to withdraw before the primary election was Aug. 4. Egan said Federow not only faxed the withdrawal form, but also mailed the original copy, which is required.
Federow originally decided to run for office to bring a variety of issues and viewpoints to the public, she said. Her decision to withdraw also was influenced by the new primary, she said, and she did not think she would be able to advance in the race as an independent candidate.
“Political parties have become extremely powerful and I don’t think I can be an independent candidate,” Federow said. “The Democrats and Republicans are both very powerful.”
Without a primary election for the position, Federow acknowledged campaigns may be less expensive for Chang and McGlashan. However, Federow said if there were more candidates on the ballot for the four open Council seats, she would be more apt to say “let’s have a good, healthy primary.”
Federow is unsure if she will work on Chang’s campaign, but said she hopes to run for office again in the future.
“I think I may gear up again for the future,” Federow said. “But only if I can figure out a strategy that not just promises, but has solutions.”
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