Outlook on politics and elections in the state of Washington from an overall centrist viewpoint. My views tend to be libertarian in nature, but at the same time are largely nonpartisan.
State Auditor Brian Sonntag has declared he will not run for the open Pierce County executive position in 2008, and is planning on running for a fifth term to his statewide position. This decision dually means a competitive race for Auditor is now out of the question and the Pierce race is probably now more wide-open as Sonntag likely would have been the presumptive favourite.
Labels: 2008 Elections, Brian Sonntag, Pierce County
posted by TMW @ 12:31 PM
I like to think that I'm a rarity in blogging, in that I'm a political nerd who doesn't have a partisan axe to grind in everything they write. I considered myself a Republican up until 2004 when I finally had enough of their bible-based politics, yet still harbour a deep dislike of the Democratic Party because of their ties to labour groups as well as their tendency to bloat budgets. Ideologically I'm somewhere between centrist and libertarian. On economics I fit neatly in the centre-right, while on social issues I can be fairly radical. And no, I'm not British. It's just that I can respect that they created our language and know how to write it properly.
6 Comments:
Why would he run for PC Exec? He has a cushy job, which he is guaranteed to have unless he gets stupid and decides to run for something else.
I agree with Peter, except that the PC job is more of a spring-board then what he has now. Plus, with the addition of performance audits to the mix, some might say the Auditor's position has now become more "political."
I still think Adam Smith might think about getting into the PC Exec race. This article in the Seattle Times both contradicts and supports that notion. Note that Smith literally LIVES in his DC office while in the Capitol. That can't be too comfortable...
Sonntag is a career politician, so why would he ever give up a safe seat to run for a competitive one? Clearly he has no ambitions past his current job, or he would have run for something else by now.
I would love to see Smith run for it (my congressman) as it would create an open seat for his seat. I am sure Dow Constantine (who was recently redistricted to cover part of the 9th) would be the front runner for the D nomination. However, I have no idea which R would step up and run. Joyce McDonald and Skip Priest are the only R's who are elected officials (to the state legislature) from the 9th, and I doubt either of them (especially not McDonald) would be amazing challengers. Any idea who would run if it were an open seat from the GOP?
Are you sure that Constantine lives in the 9th? His legislative district was pretty firmly planted in the 7th, if I recall correctly. In a potential 9th district open seat, I figure the GOP would probably give first crack to Pete von Reichbauer. He's the most powerful Republican in the district, and while he's getting a little old, he'd give them a fighting chance at the seat. Priest is a good ideological fit for the district but knowing him I don't think he has any aspirations higher than his current office. Senator Mike Carrell also lives in the 9th, but I doubt he would run or be a terribly attractive candidate. If nothing else, the Federal Way City Council could easily spawn a decent Republican candidate, since there are so many of them in that body. On the Democratic side, I think Chris Hurst would be almost unbeatable, given how strong his support is in a typically-red legislative district. I could also see Tracey Eide or Jeannie Darneille taking the plunge in this scenario.
My thinking for Constantine is he was redistricted, and I am sure he could find a house in Normandy Park and still be in his KC district. We all know he has aspirations of higher office, so if he thought it was possible I would suspect he would do it. Especially since it is looking like Ed Murray is McDermott's apprentice for the 7th CD seat.
Murray seems to definitely be McDermott's heir-apparent.
Post a Comment
<< Home