Jody Wilson stood with a group of volunteers at a street intersection last Monday night waving Rep. Roger Goodman campaign signs. She had counted over a dozen signs – until she realized three belonged to Republican challenger Toby Nixon.
“We were standing on all four corners. Roger was waving signs too,” recalled Wilson, a volunteer for the Goodman campaign, during a Democratic election night party for the 45th District at the Kirkland home of Goodman’s neighbor.
She came to the party to celebrate and thank Goodman for his legislation to reduce juvenile auto thefts at a time when her car had just been stolen for the second time.
One of the volunteers Monday night told Wilson that Goodman and Nixon were speaking with each other, though she couldn’t say if the rumor was true or not because it was getting dark and she could only see what looked like Nixon’s outline.
Goodman confirmed her suspicions.
“It’s true,” he said of his encounter with Nixon the night before. “We were standing out on a corner for about an hour together talking. The signs we were waving were the same color – red.”
In what was expected to be a tight race for Pos. 1, Goodman was already up 19 points over Nixon by 8 p.m. and expected to win the race.
Shortly after, more than 100 attendees filled the living room and tuned into CNN on a big screen television as presidential candidate John McCain conceded from the election. Then, just before Barack Obama gave his first speech as new President of the United States, Goodman held up his champagne glass for a toast.
“This morning, I saw three rows of Canadian Geese,” he said, thanking the 125-plus volunteers who helped the campaign raise more than $240,000. “They were flying south in a ‘V’ formation for victory.”
Goodman said he didn’t feel elated for some personal victory as much as he felt an awesome sense of responsibility. There’s work to do, he said, adding that during the next session he’ll tackle education, healthcare and domestic violence.
He said he’ll also speak up more in the legislature this time around.
“It’s time a new generation of legislators of my style gets things done,” he said, adding that Obama is only six months younger than him and he feels a kinship with the new president. “We’re full of hope. It’s time for change. I’m ready for this.”
Elsewhere in the region, the room rumbled on Tuesday night at the Westin Hotel in Seattle as a crowd of democratic supporters cheered for Gov. Christine Gregoire in unison, “Four more years. Four more years.”
The room erupted in applause as a very confident Gregoire took the stage following the announcement of the election results.
Gregoire addressed her supporters at the Democratic rally after major news organizations declared her the winner over Republican Dino Rossi.
With about 48 percent of the expected ballots counted Tuesday, Gregoire had about 53 percent of the vote, or 755,275 votes, compared to Rossi’s 47 percent, or 674,445 votes.
After waiting to see later returns, Rossi finally conceded by Wednesday afternoon.
“All the negative ads are done,” Gregoire said during the event and went on to thank Dino Rossi for running and for all he has done for the state of Washington. “It is time for us to come together as one great state.”
Gregoire thanked voters for braving the long lines throughout Election Day and led the crowd in unison, cheering, “Yes we can. Yes we can.”
Standing before her supporters, Gregoire counted her blessings and praised the state of Washington.
“As one Washington, we will work our way through those tough times and we will be better and we will be stronger.” She said, adding, “We are building a new economy and it is going to be a green, clean economy.”
Gregoire was joined on stage by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. The two congratulated Gregoire on her win.
“Yes we can, and yes we did,” declared Murray as she stood alongside Cantwell.
“This election night is every one of yours. You have worked your hearts and souls out,” Murray said, thanking the crowd.
As election results poured in, ballots showed Democratic 8th District challenger Darcy Burner leading Republican incumbent U.S Rep. Dave Reichert in early returns. The 8th District covers most of eastern King County, including the southern edge of Kirkland.
The tide later shifted, however, as Reichert pulled ahead and Burner conceded the race on Friday, Nov. 7.
“It is likely at this point that Congressman Reichert has won re-election, and while we will certainly ensure that every vote is counted, we accept the decision of the voters,” said Burner, who also lost to Reichert two years ago by 3 percent.
As for other Kirkland-area races, Democrats took the lead by the Reporter’s deadline Monday, Nov. 10, during which time about 78 percent of the votes were counted.
Voters in Kirkland’s U.S. Congressional District No. 1 returned Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee (Bainbridge Island) to a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives over Redmond resident Larry Ishmael.
Inslee presently serves on two U.S. House committees related to energy and natural resources and recently published a book on developing clean, alternative sources of energy.
Only days before the election, Mike Allen from Politico.com reported on Oct. 31 that Inslee was a “likely choice” and being “seriously considered by Obama advisers” for the presidential cabinet-level position of U.S. Secretary of the Interior. While he and his spokesperson declined to comment on the buzz of the potential appointment, Inslee said he was excited by his re-election and Sen. Obama’s victory.
“I’m overjoyed by the new burst of hope and freedom that’s coming to the White House,” he said. “An Obama Administration gives us a great opportunity to be part of green tech development, clean up the Puget Sound and lead the world in clean tech innovation.”
For the local legislative races, Democratic Rep. Ross Hunter also won another term for the 48th District Pos. 1, with 64 percent of the votes over first-time candidate Charles Lapp.
Democratic Rep. Deb Eddy, of Kirkland’s 48th Legislative District, Pos. 2, also took the lead with nearly 60 percent of the votes over Republican opponent Ronald Fuller.
Rep. Goodman took the lead over Nixon with 55 percent of the votes for the 45th District; Democratic incumbent Larry Springer also took the lead for Pos. 2 over Kevin Haistings with 60 percent of the votes.
For Legislative District No. 32, which covers Finn Hill, Democratic Rep. Maralyn Chase outpaced Alex Rion with 70 percent of the votes. Rep. Ruth Kagi, also a Democrat, took the seat for Pos. 2, an uncontested race.
