Renton a no-show in ’08 elections, but plenty else to watch

There are no city elections on this year’s primary and general election ballots, but state and national races should provide plenty of fireworks. The candidates for state Legislature, governor and other state officials and Congress formally made known their intention to run during the recent filing period for the Aug. 19 primary. Of course, it’s a presidential year, too. This is also the year that the top-two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election in November. That could mean two Democrats or two Republicans move on in a partisan race.

By Dean Radford • June 12, 2008 7:23 pm

There are no city elections on this year’s primary and general election ballots, but state and national races should provide plenty of fireworks.

The candidates for state Legislature, governor and other state officials and Congress formally made known their intention to run during the recent filing period for the Aug. 19 primary.

Of course, it’s a presidential year, too.

This is also the year that the top-two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election in November. That could mean two Democrats or two Republicans move on in a partisan race.

Here are how races with geographic ties to the Renton area shape up. Of the legislative candidates, only Marcie Maxwell, who is running for a vacant House seat in the 41st District, lives in Renton. Long-time 11th District Sen. Margarita Prentice represents Renton and lives in Skyway.

The party label indicates the candidate’s preference.

Legislature

• 5th District, State Senate: Cheryl Pflug (incumbent, Republican), Phyllis Huster (Democrat) and Sterling Strickland (Republican)

• 5th District, State House, Position 1: Jon Viebrock (Democrat) and Jay Rodne (incumbent, Republican)

• 5th District, State House, Position 2: Glenn Anderson (incumbent, Republican) and David Spring (Democrat)

• 11th District, State Senate: Scott McKay (Democrat), Juan Martinez (Democrat) and Margarita Prentice (incumbent, Democrat)

• 11th District, State House, Position 1: Zack Hudgins (incumbent, Democrat) and David M. Morris (Republican)

• 11th District, State House, Position 2: John Potter (Republican) and Bob Hasegawa (incumbent, Democrat)

• 37th District, State House, Position 1: Sharon Tomiko Santos (incumbent, Democrat)

• 37th District, State House, Position 2: Eric Pettigrew (incumbent, Democrat) and Ruth E. Bennett (Libertarian)

• 41st District, State Senate: Fred Jarrett (Democrat), Valerie A. Chan (Republican) and Bob Baker (Republican)

• 41st District, State House, Position 1: Steve Litzow (Republican) and Marcie Maxwell (Democrat)

• 41st District, State House, Position 2: Judy Clibborn (incumbent, Democrat)

• 47th District, State House, Position 1: Mark Hargrove (Republican), Geoff Simpson (incumbent, Democrat) and Leslie Kae Hamada (Democrat)

• 47th District, State House, Position 2: Pat Sullivan (incumbent, Democrat) and Timothy Miller (Republican)

Congress

• 8th District: Boleslaw Orlinski (no party), Dave Reichert (incumbent, Republican), Keith Arnold (Democrat), Darcy Burner (Democrat), James E. Vaughn (Democrat) and Richard Todd (no party)

• 9th District: Adam Smith (incumbent, Democrat) and James Postma (Republican)

Governor

• Christopher A. Tudor (no party), John W. Aiken Jr. (Republican), Christine Gregoire (incumbent, Democrat), Mohammed Hasan Said (no party), Duff Badgley (Green), Christian Pierre Joubert (Democrat), Will Baker (Reform), Javier O. Lopez (Republican), Dino Rossi (Republican) and James White (Independent).

Absentee ballots for the Aug. 19 primary will be mailed on Aug. 1, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Aug. 4 is the last day for in-person registration for voters not currently registered in Washington state for the primary.

And, Aug. 18 is the final day to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary.