While some pundits are describing last week's primary as a gloomy reality check for the Democratic Party, you wouldn't know that by looking at the results for the 36th legislative district.
The district, which includes of Queen Anne and Magnolia neighborhoods, as well as parts of Ballard, Belltown and Phinney Ridge, is solidly Democratic. And as expected, the district's Democratic incumbents rolled to lopsided primary victories that all but assured a general-election landslide.
Rep. Reuven Carlyle ran unopposed. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who has served the district in the Senate since 1994 and sits on such powerful committees as Ways & Means and the Judiciary, received 22,478 votes, or a little more than 83 percent of those cast. Her opponent, Leslie Klein, received 4,459 votes or about 16.5 percent.
Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson faced slightly stiffer competition. She received only 21,935 votes, or about 80 percent of the votes. Opponent Jill England garnered 5,370 votes or nearly 20 percent.
Despite these lopsided results, the top two vote getters from each contest will go on to face off in the general election on Nov. 2. So both England and Klein live to fight on. But neither is under any real illusion that the fall results in this Democratic stronghold will be much different than the primary tallies.
Even Glen Avery, a regular columnist for this newspaper and the chair of the 36th District Republicans, holds out little hope that the Republicans can defeat a district Democratic candidate any time soon.
"Here in the 36th District, we're really the voice of the opposition without much hope of being in the majority for the near future," Avery said. "To get a really serious [Republican] candidate involved in this district means it has to be someone who can self-finance a campaign because it isn't practical to raise money."
There is one other option for Republicans intent on winning elected office: move into a more Republican-friendly district. Avery said current U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi used this tack. The former Magnolia resident moved to the more conservative suburb of Sammamish to launch his political campaign.
With such long odds and little party support, why would 36th District Republican candidates put themselves through the rigors and expense of a campaign when they know they are going to lose? Klein, who lives in the Ballard area, says he's running so the voters have a choice.
"If you don't have a choice, all you are creating is a dictatorship," says the retired Air Force officer.
The business consultant teaches a class at North Seattle Community College on how property owners can reduce their tax assessments. He teaches another class he describes as "quality cruising for cheapskates" at Bellevue College. The course shows students how to find cruise ship trips at very cheap prices.
But Klein is not your typical Republican. He doesn't make political contributions, hates the computer-generated phone calls supporting candidates and thinks campaign mailings are a waste of paper. He also wrote and published a book on New Age spirituality, called "Spirituality in a Materialistic World."
In fact, you might describe him as a little "r" Republican. While affiliated with the GOP, he listed the "Problemfixer Party," a group of his own creation, as his preferred choice. He decries the current partisan politics and is seeking a middle road between the two major parties.
He describes his campaign as "A Bridge To Somewhere," referring to the famed Alaska bridge project that in recent years has come to stand for government boondoggles and political excess. Beyond giving the Republicans someone to vote for, Klein wants to bring fiscal discipline to the state while also fully funding social programs.
But his most famous passion may be his love for the reality television show, "Survivor," which unexpectedly spilled over into his political campaign. At a July editorial board meeting with The Stranger newspaper, Klein decided to forego a suit and tie in favor of wearing his "Survivor" outfit, which he received last year after visiting the Samoa set of the show during last year's filming. Apparently, The Stranger board thought Klein was more Needless to say, he didn't get their endorsement.
This is Klein's third attempt to unseat the entrenched candidates, but he doesn't seem to mind the quixotic task before him.
"I'm happy to show the flag for the Republicans in my district," Klein said.
Jill England, who is running against Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, also couldn't handle the idea of candidates running unopposed. Especially a group of candidates that she said are not representing her or many of the people she knows in the district.
"I'm not a martyr," England said. "I'm here to express my conservative views. I just got to the point where nobody else was standing up and talking about the tremendous budget deficits in this state."
The software engineer for a company that helps people quit smoking realizes the state budget must be balanced, but she doesn't trust the way lawmakers go about it.
She maintains that taxes and government intrusion is hindering state businesses. Her list of grievances is a long one, including state insurance requirements, building and occupation taxes and environmental controls that are combining to hurt state businesses. And then there is that state budget.
"We spend $65 billion a year on state government and yet we can't live within our means, somehow," England says in an exasperated tone.
How would she attack the looming budget deficit? England tends to offer generalities in this area, such as cutting the money going to prisons and slashing wasteful social programs. But she offered few details.
England knows her campaign is an uphill battle, but she doesn't seem to mind. She said she has spent about $2,000 of her own money leading up to the primary and she expects to spend another $2,000 between now and the general election.
And, she adds, campaign signs are relatively cheap and doorbelling is free. Plus, if you get discouraged, you aren't a true leader.
"If I didn't continue to campaign I would be letting down the voters, I'd be letting down myself and Mary Lou Dickerson," England said. "Dickerson occasionally needs a foil to fight against. She needs the practice."
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