Primary predictions -- "other"

Today i'm going to cover the remainder of the races for predictions of tomorrow's primary election. This includes Spokane City Council races, along with Seattle Port Commission races and a few assorted ones i've thrown in for the hell of it.

Spokane City Council Dist. 2
One in this three-person race will be eliminated tomorrow, and I tend to think it will be Jeff Bierman. Bierman has some solid ideas and is a good candidate, but i've seen next to nothing out of him as far as ads, campaign signs, and any similar name recognition boosters. Conservative challenger Dallas Hawkins is likely to advance as well as appointed incumbent Mary Verner, by all appearances a pragmatic liberal. Being that the second district encompasses the liberal downtown region, Hawkins will likely have a difficult time in the general election.

Finish order: Verner, Hawkins, Bierman

Spokane City Council Dist. 3
In easily the most difficult to call race out of all, Spokane voters will attempt to whittle a group of seven down to two. As i've stated earlier, I expect former Councilman Steve Corker to make the final pairing, despite his polarizing personality. The other spot I expect to go to conservative challenger Nancy McLaughlin, who has the full backing of the county Republicans. Joyce McNamee and Judith Gilmore could sneak in if their cards fall right. Daniel Day, Keith Springer, and Barbara Lampert have little hope, despite quality ideas from the latter two. A general election will be difficult to call between Corker and McLaughlin. Corker is a better ideological fit for the district, but McLaughlin is more than likely a better personality fit.

Finish order: Corker, McLaughlin, McNamee, Gilmore, Springer, Lampert, Day

Seattle Port Commission Pos. 1
While I admit I haven't been closely following any of the Port races, from all apperances this is incumbent Lawrence Molloy's to lose. Challenger John Creighton appears to be his top challenger here, with a broad set of big-name endorsements. Challenger Wen Wu Lee has been invisible in comparison to her opponents.

Major supporters:
Creighton: Former Govs. Gary Locke [D] and Dan Evans [R]; former Republican Sen. Slade Gorton; former Port Commissioners Clare Nordquist and Jack Block; former Seattle Mayors Wes Uhlman, Charles Royer, Norm Rice, and Paul Schell
Molloy: Washington Conservation Voters; Seattle Post-Intelligencer; County Executive Ron Sims; Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee; state House Speaker Frank Chopp

Finish order: Molloy, Creighton, Lee

Seattle Port Commission Pos. 3
Five candidates are vying for the seat currently held by city council candidate Paige Miller. Foremost of the group are former Seattle City Treasurer Lloyd Hara and Bellevue-based labour leader cop Peter Coates. Battling these two closest is Rich Berkowitz, followed by little-chance candidates John Kane and Chris Cain.

Major supporters:
Berkowitz: King County Journal; 11th, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 46th District Democrats; Seattle City Councilman Jim Compton; Democratic state Sens. Ken Jacobsen and Margarita Prentice
Coates: Washington Teamsters; Washington Conservation Voters; Port Commissioner Lawrence Molloy; Ron Sims; Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
Hara: Former Govs. Albert Rosellini, Mike Lowry, Gary Locke [D], and John Spellman [R]; King County Democratic Central Committee; 43rd and 46th District Republicans; Seattle City Councilmembers Richard Conlin and David Della
Kane: 36th District Democrats

Finish order: Hara, Coates, Berkowitz, Kane, Cain

Seattle Port Commission Pos. 4
Pragmatic incumbent Pat Davis has a target on her back by liberals in the form of challenger Jack Jolley. Other challengers are two-time Republican candidate for attorney general Richard Pope and 2004 Libertarian legislative candidate Robert Walker.

Major supporters:
Davis: Democratic Govs. Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke, and Republican Gov. Dan Evans; Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and former Republican Sen. Slade Gorton; Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna; Seattle Times
Jolley: Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Sierra Club; Democratic state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson; The Stranger

Kent Mayor
A potentially-entertaining race is brewing for mayor of Kent, a historically-conservative Seattle suburb that has recently begun to drift towards the left. Former Republican state Rep. and current City Councilman Les Thomas was among the first to enter the race, and has since been joined by Renton Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzette Cooke and fellow Councilmembers Judy Woods and Bruce White (no relation to current Mayor Jim White). This race could go to any of the four, all with solid credentials and support. Cooke got the most recent boost after being endorsed by the Seattle Times, and Woods leads in money. While it's foolish of me to attempt to call this race, i'm taking a stab since it's not like i'm betting money or anything.

Major supporters:
Cooke: Seattle Times; Republican County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert
Woods: Washington Conservation Voters; King County Labor Council; Kent City Council President Julie Peterson; Democratic state Sen. Karen Keiser; Republican state Rep. Fred Jarrett

Finish order: Woods, White, Cooke, Thomas

Tacoma City Council Dist. 2
Jake Fey appears to be the favourite to come in first, but the race for second place is pretty wide-open. No candidate is really raking in donations and Fey only seems to be in the lead because of his support of many local and county Democrats. Fellow Democrat Denny Faker is my pick for second place, but it could also go to Carolyn Davidson or Rick Cvitanich.

Finish order: Fey, Faker, Davidson, Cvitanich