Updated: Republicans hold on to 39th, but Democrat DelBene takes 1st District

Republicans maintain exclusive representation of the 39th District of Washington following last Tuesday’s election.

Kirk Pearson achieved a state senate seat vacated by retiring senator Val Stevens, defeating Democrat Scott Olson with 58 percent of the vote that has been counted as of Sunday night.

Pearson’s old state representative seat will be occupied by Republican newcomer Elizabeth Scott, who garnered 53.85 percent of the vote, and Dan Kristiansen easily held on to his representative seat with 55.66 percent of the vote.

Suzan DelBene, who has won the race to represent the newly-drawn 1st Legislative District of Washington in the U.S. House of Representatives, led in Snohomish County votes too, winning 51.21 percent of the votes from this county.

The city of Gold Bar has decisively voted against a property tax that would have helped the city pay for services while also handling the legal and administrative costs associated with a large number of lawsuits and public records requests in recent years. The levy, which would have raised about $100,000, failed with 57 percent voting against it.

Once again, Monroe has voted emphatically against the traffic camera program, with only 29 percent voting to keep the camera program in place.

And Roosevelt Ridge made it abundantly clear that residents there don’t want to come into the city of Monroe; they voted 92 percent against annexation, with only 11 votes in support of joining the city.

Scott Olson said that he considered his campaign a success, although he didn’t win the seat.

“We did things a little differently than you would find in a ‘conventional’ campaign, and in that sense this was a bit of a political experiment, as well. We wanted the campaign to reflect our values and conducted ourselves accordingly,” he said. “While the results in the senate race were not what we were aiming for, I’m satisfied that we ran the race we wanted, one that relied on no special interest money and stuck pretty much to issues, philosophies, and ideas right from the beginning. I want to stress that it was this way (except for the money part) on both sides and I am appreciative of the way Senator Pearson ran his campaign, as well, and congratulate him on his victory. Overall, I would have to say that it was, in spite of the outcome, a success.”

Scott expressed thanks to the voters of the district for giving her the opportunity to serve. She thanked her volunteers, as well, and the many civic groups before which she was invited to speak.

She also directed comments to the people she met doorbelling.

“From the elderly lady in Sedro-Woolley, worried about the rising costs of food and fuel; to the Granite Falls man, out of work for sixteen months; to the several Monroe and Sultan neighbors explaining the costly effect of new regulations on their small businesses, your faces are etched in my memory,” she wrote in comments following the election. “Based on your feedback, I’ll focus on improving the state’s economy and job market by lowering taxes and decreasing regulation, while working to prioritize our state spending in order to preserve funding for public safety, education, and caring for the most vulnerable.”

She went on to say that she understands the character of the district.

“Ours is one of the largest districts west of the Cascades, with some of our ‘neighbors’ a 90-minute drive away,” she said. “However, we share an independent mindset as well as a desire for government that is responsible, accountable, careful with our money, and compassionate without being intrusive.”

She said she looks forward to calls, letters and visits from her new constituents.

Her opponent, Eleanor Walters, said that now that election season is over, it is time to put differences aside.

“Now it’s about moving forward,” she said. “We can’t just retreat to our different corner. That’s what creates gridlock. Stay involved. The government is yours. You can choose to participate or just stand by and watch. Either way, realize that your choice directly affects the outcome.”

She, too, thanked her supporters and wished voters well.

“I am hopeful that the economy will continue to improve and for those who have persevered without, that you get that new job,” she said. “It has been a long time coming.”