Vialle Dominates but Washington is the Story
Historically, and locally, the power of incumbency has repeatedly proven to be all many elected officials need to ward off challengers and retain their positions. Tacoma, however, seems to have ignored that trend this past week, as sitting Tacoma School Board member Kim Golding doesn't look like she'll be advancing to the general election.
Former Tacoma Mayor Karen Vialle trounced the field, receiving 52-percent of the votes. But the story of the election was Kim Washington. An administrator at Bates Technical College Clover Park Technical College, Washington chose not to campaign in any way during the primary yet looks to be on her way to an unprecedented second place finish, leaving the incumbent Golding on the outside looking in. With only a handful of ballots left to count Washington holds a 56-vote lead over Golding
Gordon and Heinze Advance
In the race for Tacoma School Board Position 3, University of Puget Sound Professor Dexter Gordon leads local businessman Scott Heinze by 825 votes, or roughly three percent. The two are both over 2,000 votes ahead of third place candidate Andrew Milton - with Gordon and Heinze now set to square off in the general.
Ibsen's Work Pays Off
Anders Ibsen's doorbelling exploits have become the stuff of local legend. By June he claimed to have knocked on over 10,000 doors, and by this week's election he claimed to have doorbelled Tacoma City Council District 1 three times over.
On Tuesday Ibsen's hard work paid off as he surprised many local insiders by winning 2011's only Tacoma City Council primary. Only 200 votes (about three percent) behind Ibsen is retired teacher and longtime local democrat Karen Smitherman, who many figured to be the favorite before Tuesday's primary.
Review all the primary results here.
Jake Fey Back on the Campaign Trail
Tacoma City Councilman Jake Fey announced Thursday that he will seek the state legislative seat being vacated by Jeannie Darneille. Fey sought a seat in the legislature in 2010 but was defeated by Rep. Laurie Jinkins.
Don't let the recent "L" fool you, however. Fey is expert on clean energy, transit and density issues and is known on the Tacoma City Council for his willingness to ask tough questions and engage complex policy at a high level. If elected, Fey would undoubtedly be a strong voice for Tacoma as well as the environment statewide.
Fey waged a strong campaign in 2010, raising and spending over $150,000 and making an Ibsen-like effort at the doors. He will no doubt repeat or increase his efforts this time around.
Time will tell who joins Fey in the field of hopefuls; other local heavyweights are rumored to be mulling possible runs.
Local News Quick Hitters
The Tacoma School Board is scheduled to interview only one internal candidate for Superintendent.
The Tacoma Planning Commission voted to approve an update to the Shoreline Master Program.
And a no-contact order has been placed against Robert ‘the Traveller' Hill.
Comments for "Primary results galore and Fey back on the campaign trail"
Comments for this article are currently closed.