The air is warm, the days are long and the Mariners even won a few. It's the middle of summer, so naturally our thoughts turn to...the coming Democratic primary for one of the 43rd District's two House seats.
For the first time in years there's an actual contest at hand. Ed Murray, the longtime incumbent who has held the seat since 1995, announced earlier this year he would seek the Senate seat held by Pat Thibaudeau. That set up what appeared to be an interesting primary until Thibaudeau announced she would not seek reelection.
While that removed any drama from theSenate race, the state house is a different matter. Six candidates have tossed their hats into the ring and a fair amount of money and energy is going into an interesting campaign.
The subject becomes more topical with a candidates forum that takes place on Tuesday, July 18, at Town Hall. The forum is the first occasion to see the six people vying for the seat in one place. Keep in mind the winner of the September 19 primary is the de facto winner of the general election. The Republicans will field a candidate, but this has been a safe seat for Democrats pretty much forever. In 2004, Murray won reelection with 87 percent of the vote.
Can you name the six candidates? If not, here's a list.
Stephanie Pure. An aide to Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, she is well known on the Hill and is making her first run at public office.
Jim Street. He's a former Seattle City Councilmember and state Superior Court judge and probably has the greatest name recognition at this point.
Bill Sherman. Sherman is a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County and worked at the Department of the Interior during the Clinton administration.
Dick Kelley. The former Seattle deputy mayor has a lengthy civic resume dating back to running former mayor Charles Royer's first campaign in 1977.
Lynne Dodson. A professor - she once taught at Seattle Central Community College - for the last six years she's been president of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1789.
Jamie Pedersen. A local attorney and the only openly gay candidate, notable if only because Murray is gay, as was his predecessor Cal Anderson. Some regard the 43rd as a gay seat.
Candidate events are not to everyone's taste. But it appears to be a field of well qualified candidates. Consider that the winner stands a good chance of occupying the seat for as long as he or she wants. For the first time in years the 43rd is a blank canvas. It might be worth a moment to check out your future state representative.
Town Hall is located at 1119 Eighth Avenue. The forum begins with a candidates reception at 6 p.m., with the program starting at 7:30.[[In-content Ad]]
