August 16, 2009
By CURT WOODWARD
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Seattle Post Intelligencer
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Republicans, stuck in the minority at the Legislature, are gearing up for a serious run at the only Democrat from rural Eastern Washington in one of three state House races on Tuesday’s primary ballot.
The three House positions, each of them east of the Cascades, were vacated before the previous occupant’s term expired – two by deaths, and one by a promotion.
Local officials appointed temporary replacements, who must run for the remaining portion of their predecessor’s term if they want to keep the job. The primary will narrow the field to the top two vote-getters, who will then compete in the November general election.
The leading contest is in the 16th District, which includes the cities of Pasco and Walla Walla. Incumbent Rep. Laura Grant, D-Walla Walla, is trying to retain her seat as the Legislature’s only Eastern Washington Democrat from outside the Spokane area.
Grant, an elementary school teacher, was appointed earlier this year after the death of her father, Bill Grant, who held the post for more than 20 years.
She faces two Republican challengers: Terry Nealey, a former Columbia County prosecutor, and Kevin Young, a farmer and state Transportation Department employee.
A fourth candidate, prison guard David Roberts, is running as a “Reagan Independent” under Washington’s choose-your-own party-preference system.
Grant and Nealey are by far the leading fundraisers in the campaign. Legislative Democrats, who have majorities in both the Senate and House, have donated heavily to Grant’s campaign. Among Nealey’s notable donors are businesses and farmers.
Grant echoes her father’s campaign pitch: Rural voters need someone on the inside with the dominant Democratic majority, to ensure their interests aren’t just relegated to outsider status.
“One of my opponents says, ‘Well, I’m good at reaching across the aisle,’” Grant said. “I think that’s very nice. But the important thing is you have someone across that aisle who is able to get that legislation through the process.”
Nealey, who claimed 46 percent of the vote against the late Bill Grant in the 2008 general election, contends that Democrats have done a poor job of managing the state’s finances through the current recession.
“This is a Republican district with Eastern Washington values,” Nealey said. “I’ve been here a long time, I’m conservative, and I have a much greater background and experience than she does.”
While political parties certainly want every legislative seat they can get, there’s likely another motivation behind Democrats trying to hold Grant’s seat, independent pollster Stuart Elway said.
“I think the idea of having a Democrat in a non-Spokane district is symbolically important,” he said. “You don’t want to cede that entire real estate to the Republicans if you’re a Democrat.”
The neighboring 9th District, which includes Pullman and Cheney, features an open contest for the unexpired term of the late Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa. Appointed replacement Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax, had previously retired from the Legislature and is not running to keep the seat.
Four Republicans and one Democrat are vying for the final two spots on the general election ballot.
The top fundraisers are both Republicans: Susan Fagan, a former aide to three U.S. senators from Idaho and public affairs director for a Pullman manufacturer, and Pat Hailey, a farmer-rancher and school board member who is the widow of Steve Hailey.
Following them in the money race are former TV news reporter and school board member Darin Watkins, and farmer and former school board member Art Swannack. The lone Democrat, business owner Glen Stockwell, has reported no money raised.
The 15th District, which includes Sunnyside and Goldendale, is effectively a one-on-one matchup ahead of the November general election.
Appointed Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, is running to complete the term of Dan Newhouse, who was appointed Gov. Chris Gregoire’s agriculture director. His opponent is Democrat Donicio Marichalar, a consultant and former state social worker.
Taylor has reported about $33,000 in campaign money, while Marichalar has reported no contributions. A third candidate, John Gotts, registered for the contest as a Democrat but has abandoned his bid to work on business ventures in California.
