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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Extra Extra Fizz: Another Democrat Eyes GOP Turf

Politics   January 6, 2010 at 12:09 pm Josh Feit

We’ve already reported that Democrats are going after the last bastion of GOP control on Seattle’s east side exurbs, the state legislature’s 5th legislative district, where businessman Dean Willard is running against incumbent GOP state Rep. Glenn Anderson (R-5).

The latest: Trial lawyer Greg Hoover is running against Anderson’s Republican house colleague from the 5th, Rep. Jay Rodne (R-5).

A good sign for the Democrats: The gay rights referendum, R-71, passed big in the 5th, getting over 60 percent support. Both Rep. Anderson and Rodne voted no on the measure when it came before the house.

And more state legislature fizz: The 41st District Democrats (Mercer Island, Newcastle) picked Seattle University law professor, attorney, and activist Randy Gordon to replace Sen. Fred Jarrett, who joined King County Executive Dow Constantine’s team as deputy exec. His name goes to the King County Council, which makes the final pick.


  • Michael M.

    Re: 41st – and who are the other two?

    Re: the 5th – it would be ludicrous to think that R-71 is a harbinger of what’s to come in the 5th. Social issues do not dominate there the way they do in uber conservative and liberal districts (the 39th and 43rd, respectively). I can guarantee you that neither Democrat will win by simply saying “Ya’ll voted for R-71, and these two voted against the underlying bill.”

    Hell, the people may be appreciative of the “no” votes, and may have actually preferred to vote on the issue themselves.

    Short version: E King County does not vote the same way Seattle does.

  • Michael M.

    Re: 41st – and who are the other two?

    Re: the 5th – it would be ludicrous to think that R-71 is a harbinger of what’s to come in the 5th. Social issues do not dominate there the way they do in uber conservative and liberal districts (the 39th and 43rd, respectively). I can guarantee you that neither Democrat will win by simply saying “Ya’ll voted for R-71, and these two voted against the underlying bill.”

    Hell, the people may be appreciative of the “no” votes, and may have actually preferred to vote on the issue themselves.

    Short version: E King County does not vote the same way Seattle does.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,

    The other two were Aaron Belenky and George Pieper, who got 9 and 8 % respectively, vs. Gordon’s 54. I know that only adds up to 71. Two PCOs didn’t vote.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,

    The other two were Aaron Belenky and George Pieper, who got 9 and 8 % respectively, vs. Gordon’s 54. I know that only adds up to 71. Two PCOs didn’t vote.

  • Hihankara

    @1 – What the R71 vote (and the District’s choosing of Obama and Rossi) demonstrates is that there is a large “middle ground” in the district that is open to persuasion by the right candidate/messaging. The 5th Dems will bring one home for sure in 2010, and on election night, the place to be will be the Eastside. :)

  • Hihankara

    @1 – What the R71 vote (and the District’s choosing of Obama and Rossi) demonstrates is that there is a large “middle ground” in the district that is open to persuasion by the right candidate/messaging. The 5th Dems will bring one home for sure in 2010, and on election night, the place to be will be the Eastside. :)

  • http://peacetreefarm.org N in Seattle

    Arithmetic-challenged Josh @2:

    The other two were Aaron Belenky and George Pieper, who got 9 and 8 % respectively, vs. Gordon’s 54. I know that only adds up to 71. Two PCOs didn’t vote.

    Those are counts, Josh, not percentages. They add up to 71 because that’s the total number of PCOs who voted.

    Percentages (rounded to integers) are Gordon 76%, Belenky 13%, Pieper 11%.

  • Slippery Pete

    @4: Facts are often unimportant to Josh and Erica. So I’m not surprised that 5th grade arithmetic is held in equal regard.

    But to their credit, they’re usually the only one with any facts, even if some of them are wrong (though Goldy scooped ‘em on this one).

  • Michael M.

    LOL@4 – I was going to leave that minor thing alone ;-)

    @3 – I do agree with that assessment. I would also throw in I-1033. And I do hope that Dean and this new guy run awesome campaigns. This is going to be a tough year for Democrats, and turning a solid-R district into a swing district would be rad (Jennifer Sutton gets a lot of credit here).

    All I’m saying is that people can’t read into R-71 as a Democratic wave. We’re talking about long-term incumbents, after all.

  • Slippery Pete

    @4: Facts are often unimportant to Josh and Erica. So I’m not surprised that 5th grade arithmetic is held in equal regard.

    But to their credit, they’re usually the only one with any facts, even if some of them are wrong (though Goldy scooped ‘em on this one).

  • Michael M.

    LOL@4 – I was going to leave that minor thing alone ;-)

    @3 – I do agree with that assessment. I would also throw in I-1033. And I do hope that Dean and this new guy run awesome campaigns. This is going to be a tough year for Democrats, and turning a solid-R district into a swing district would be rad (Jennifer Sutton gets a lot of credit here).

    All I’m saying is that people can’t read into R-71 as a Democratic wave. We’re talking about long-term incumbents, after all.

  • jfred

    I think the 5th is making progress- some evidence of that by Dean and Greg getting coverage here. I also think pocket book and education issues will be the primary issues in that district rather than social issues. @6-agree 100% with your compliment to J Sutton.

  • jfred

    I think the 5th is making progress- some evidence of that by Dean and Greg getting coverage here. I also think pocket book and education issues will be the primary issues in that district rather than social issues. @6-agree 100% with your compliment to J Sutton.

  • Eastside Progressive

    Jennifer Sutton FTW!

    It’s going to be a fun and interesting year in the 5th.

  • Eastside Progressive

    Jennifer Sutton FTW!

    It’s going to be a fun and interesting year in the 5th.

  • JSutton

    Aww, I love you too anonymous people (@6, 7, and 8)!

    Donations can be made to 5thdems.org… ;D

  • JSutton

    Aww, I love you too anonymous people (@6, 7, and 8)!

    Donations can be made to 5thdems.org… ;D

  • http://peacetreefarm.org/ N in Seattle

    Arithmetic-challenged Josh @2:

    The other two were Aaron Belenky and George Pieper, who got 9 and 8 % respectively, vs. Gordon’s 54. I know that only adds up to 71. Two PCOs didn’t vote.

    Those are counts, Josh, not percentages. They add up to 71 because that's the total number of PCOs who voted.

    Percentages (rounded to integers) are Gordon 76%, Belenky 13%, Pieper 11%.