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Aug. 18, 2009 at 9:20pm
OFFICIAL FEED>>TACOMA 2009 ELECTION COVERAGE
2009 is shaping up to be a very interesting year in Tacoma political elections: Ladenburg, Talbert, and (Mike) Lonergan are all term limited out. Julie Anderson may leave if she wins the Pierce County Auditor spot. Marilyn Strickland is running for mayor, which could leave her spot open.
This leaves possibly only Fey, Manthou, and Walker as the only council members staying on (Fey is running as an incumbent).
OFFICIAL LIST OF CANDIDATES
Tacoma City Mayor
Jim Merritt - www.merrittformayor.com
Marilyn Strickland - www.myspace.com/marilynstrickland
Tacoma City Council District 2 (North End & North East)
Jake Fey (incumbent)
Tacoma City Council District 4 (East Side)
Marty Campbell - www.electcampbell.org
Roxanne Murphy - www.electroxanne.com
Susanne Marten - www.susannemarten.com
Tacoma City Council District 5 (South End)
Rebecca Summers-Kirby - www.beckiesummers.com
Joe Lonergan - www.joelonergan.com
John Miles
Tacoma City Council Position 8 (at-large)
Kevin Rojecki - blog.rojeckifortacoma.com
Victoria Woodards - www.woodardsforcitycouncil.com
Tacoma School District Board
Chris Van Vechten - www.votevanvechten.com
Deb Blakeslee
Catherine Ushka-Hall - www.votecatherine.com
Send election tips and announcements to: tacomaelections@gmail.com or post below!
Tacoma City Mayor
Jim Merritt - www.merrittformayor.com
Marilyn Strickland - www.myspace.com/marilynstrickland
Tacoma City Council District 2 (North End & North East)
Jake Fey (incumbent)
Tacoma City Council District 4 (East Side)
Marty Campbell - www.electcampbell.org
Roxanne Murphy - www.electroxanne.com
Susanne Marten - www.susannemarten.com
Tacoma City Council District 5 (South End)
Rebecca Summers-Kirby - www.beckiesummers.com
Joe Lonergan - www.joelonergan.com
John Miles
Tacoma City Council Position 8 (at-large)
Kevin Rojecki - blog.rojeckifortacoma.com
Victoria Woodards - www.woodardsforcitycouncil.com
Tacoma School District Board
Chris Van Vechten - www.votevanvechten.com
Deb Blakeslee
Catherine Ushka-Hall - www.votecatherine.com
Send election tips and announcements to: tacomaelections@gmail.com or post below!
Updated 6/23/2009
Thanks to RR of C.L.A.W. for supplying the OFFICIAL FEED>>TACOMA 2009 ELECTION logo.
comments [167] | posted under election, election 2009, tacoma
Comments
 by NineInchNachos on 3/5/2009 @ 5:57pm | how about this?  |
 by Erik on 3/5/2009 @ 6:04pm | Wow. That was fast. Those C.L.A.W. folks can deliver deliverables at a high level of performance. |
 by morgan on 3/5/2009 @ 8:15pm | Thank you sir! |
by Erik on 3/5/2009 @ 10:35pm | Ok. Here's how the Tacoma political races for 2009 break down. Here are the declared candidates from the PDC, the ones that have officially filed:
Mayor: Jim Merritt www.jamesrmerritt.com/ Tacoma City Council Position No,. 4 Marty Campbell electcampbell.org/ Tacoma City Council No. 5 Rebecca Summers-Kirby Tacoma City Council Position No. 6 Kevin Rojecki Commentary: To date, there are no contested seats for the mayors position or for any Tacoma City Council position. www.pdc.wa.gov/ |
by NineInchNachos on 3/5/2009 @ 10:57pm | when is the filing deadline? |
by morgan on 3/5/2009 @ 10:59pm | It's not official until the PDC says it is, but Victoria Woodards (Pierce County Council member Tim Farrell's assistant and Metro Parks Board member) has declared for Position No. 6
source: blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/0... |
by morgan on 3/5/2009 @ 11:09pm | NineInchNachos: Couldn't find it on the city's website, huh? Me neither. I put an email in and will post the info once I get it. |
 by thriceallamerican on 3/6/2009 @ 9:22am | According to this page, "filing week" is June 1-5, so my assumption would be that June 5 is the deadline. |
by morgan on 3/6/2009 @ 10:10am | Thanks thriceallamerican - I'm still searching for filing fees.
This is what the county manual says about filing fees- but where are the salaries listed? Seems like the information could be more staright forward. A filing fee equal to 1% of the annual salary at the time of filing shall accompany each Declaration of Candidacy for any offi ce with an annual salary of more than $1,000. A fi ling fee of $10 will be charged for offices with annual salaries under $1,000. Per diem is not considered a salary. Offices paid per meeting or per diem do not require a fi ling fee. A filing fee is not charged for offi ces without a fixed annual salary. A filing fee of $1.00 shall accompany each Declaration of Candidacy for Precinct Committee Officer. FILING FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. If a candidate withdraws and re-files for a different position, a second filing fee must be paid for the new position. (Reference RCW 29A.24) Candidates or candidate committees lacking suffi cient assets or income to pay the fi ling fee required may submit a fi ling fee petition in lieu of the fi ling fee along with a Declaration of Candidacy. The petition must be on the prescribed form available in the Auditor?s offi ce or on our website, and contain one signature for each dollar of the fi ling fee. For example, if the fi ling fee for the offi ce you are seeking is $200.00, the petition must contain 200 valid signatures of registered voters who reside in the district/jurisdiction of the offi ce you are seeking. You must gather enough signatures to allow for invalid signers. Additional signatures may not be submitted after Friday, June 6, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Petitions cannot be combined with money for the fi ling fee. (Reference RCW 29A.24.091, 101, 111 |
by morgan on 3/6/2009 @ 2:14pm | Word back.
All the election information for running for the City Council Race is on the Pierce County Auditor's website. That includes the date for filing which I believe is the first week in June. The costs are listed below 816.82 for Mayor and 370.24 for Council Member. Also you need to file with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. I believe that information is on the Pierce County Auditors website as well www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/ Click on Elections. Mayor: $81,681.60 annual salary; the filing fee of 1% is $816.82 Council Members: $37,024.00 annual salary; the filing fee of 1% is $370.24 If you have any other questions let me know. Doris Sorum City Clerk 253.591.5361 |
by morgan on 3/6/2009 @ 8:04pm | It's official: Victoria Woodards is in for Position No. 6 - filed 3/4/2009. |
by morgan on 3/7/2009 @ 12:05am | 3/5/2009 Update:
The PDC is reporting that Kevin Rojecki has filed to run for position 6 - the at-large spot being vacated by Lonergan. A quick Google shows that Kevin works for the City of SeaTac Fire Department. Yes, SeaTac is an actual city. Kevin's filing comes one week after Rebecca (Beckie) Summers-Kirby, wife of Sate Rep. Steve Kirby, threw her hat into the ring for Ladenburg's seat. What are the odds of another South Tacoma husband/wife duo political power team? Pretty good, I would say. |
by morgan on 3/10/2009 @ 11:40am | This just in: the Official Kick-Off for the Merritt for Mayor campaign announced -
March 19th, 2009 Kick Off VFW Hall, 2000 South Union 5pm to 7pm From Merritt's website: It’s all about Tacoma. “It’s about keeping the jobs we have while creating the jobs we need. It’s about creating a safe community and improving our city services. But mostly it’s about creating a shared vision of the future for our city & making that vision our reality” ~ Jim Merritt |
by morgan on 3/22/2009 @ 10:57pm | 3/22/09 update: Marilyn is in
Even though I run an online pseudo-newspaper, the Tacoma Sun, I am apparently the only person in Tacoma who did NOT receive Marilyn Strickland's press release officially announcing her candidacy for Mayor. You can read about it here: www.exit133.com/5167/marilyn-strickland-... No worries, I won't take it personally. Besides, we've all known she was going to run since last year. Now, Let The Race Begin!!! |
 by wicks on 4/8/2009 @ 9:45am | When is the last day to register for candidacy? |
by wicks on 4/8/2009 @ 9:55am | sorry, my question was already answered |
by wicks on 4/8/2009 @ 10:00am | Why does it say that Fey's term is up in 2009 on the City's webiste? |
by amocat on 4/8/2009 @ 11:38am | @wicks
Because it is. Fey is seeking reelection. |
by wicks on 4/10/2009 @ 1:53pm | Thanks, I must have been looking at something that had a different term end date on it. |
by morgan on 4/16/2009 @ 9:29pm | The TNT is reporting that Melonite, Chris Van Vechten, has announced he's running for a spot on the school board. Way to go Chris! I like his attitude on open public meetings and making those meetings more accessible. For those of us who are interested in keeping up with the school district but are unable to make the meetings, streaming the meetings would be a huge bonus. Plus it helps give the impression that the school board is operating openly. |
by NineInchNachos on 4/16/2009 @ 9:55pm | I request a Tacoma Sun interview with Chris Van Vechten.
V for Van Vechten! |
by morgan on 4/17/2009 @ 6:30pm | NineInchNachos: It's in the works, as they say. |
by morgan on 4/17/2009 @ 6:30pm | Official today: One Jacob Fey has filed to run for City Council. |
 by jenyum on 4/17/2009 @ 8:59pm | There will likely be more action in the school board race, in the next few months. (No, not me.) |
by morgan on 4/22/2009 @ 9:03pm | This just in: Deb Blakeslee has filed to run for the school board. I'll wait for the press release for more details because I am not familiar with her. Is this who you were referring to Jen? |
by wicks on 4/23/2009 @ 1:39pm | Larry Dahl is currently up for election in 2009 for the Tacoma Metro Parks Board. Does anyone have information about whether or not he plans on running again and if anyone is going to run against him?
|
by morgan on 4/23/2009 @ 3:23pm | wicks: I haven't seen or heard anything yet. I think he runs every (election) year, so he will probably run again.
Although if Victoria gets elected to the city council, I imagine she would have to leave the Parks board, in which case a new person would have to be appointed. |
 by Jake on 4/23/2009 @ 4:53pm | Roxanne Murphy Jumps into the Council Race:
www.tacomauntapped.com/2009/04/roxanne-m... |
by Erik on 4/23/2009 @ 5:10pm | Roxanne Murphy Jumps into the Council Race:
That's the same district Marty has declared for. This is going to be an interesting race as Roxanne has 1102 Facebook friends to Marty's 677. Yet, I think Roxanne has been on Facebook for much longer than Marty. |
by morgan on 4/23/2009 @ 11:07pm | Wow! I didn't see that coming! Is TacomaUntapped running her media campaign? Pretty effective, I would say. |
 by izenmania on 4/24/2009 @ 8:57am | "Roxanne’s plans for revitalizing the District 4 include ridding the streets of blight and crime; launching initiatives and setting policies that will improve the quality of life within the district and Tacoma; while creating lasting partnerships between the community and the City of Tacoma."
So... Roxanne's plans for revitalizing District 4 are... doing all the things that are a City Council-person's job. That, and being Batman. |
 by Chris Van Vechten on 4/27/2009 @ 8:58am | Hey! I have a website too!
www.votevanvechten.com |
 by TDI-Reporters-Notebook on 4/27/2009 @ 2:52pm | this just landed in my inbox . . .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 27, 2009 CONTACT: Joe Lonergan, cell (253) 223-2974 PHOTO ATTACHED JOE LONERGAN WILL SEEK TACOMA’S SOUTH END CITY COUNCIL SEAT South End resident Joe Lonergan today announced his candidacy for the Tacoma City Council representing District 5. The seat is currently held by Connie Ladenburg, who cannot run again due to term limits. Lonergan, 32, owns a home on 72nd Street and is employed as an advertising account executive in Tacoma. For the past six years, he has served on the board of the South End Neighborhood Council, and is also a member of the Wapato Park Advisory Committee. “During the next six months, I will meet with as many residents as I possibly can, to hear their concerns and their ideas for a stronger, safer community,” said Lonergan. “From that, we’ll shape an action plan to make Tacoma—and especially the South End—a better place to live and work and raise our families.” Lonergan is the son of Mike Lonergan, current At-Large City Council Member, who steps down at the end of this year due to term limits. “I will work hard for Joe’s election,” said the elder Lonergan, “to make sure that common sense and concern for the average taxpayer will continue on our Council.” Joe Lonergan and his wife Beth have two sons, and are active in the Foursquare Church. He is an honors graduate of Eastern Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. The Fifth Council District includes all of Tacoma that is south of 56th Street and west of McKinley Avenue. The City Council election will be November 3, 2009. Lonergan’s campaign website is www.joelonergan.com. |
by morgan on 4/27/2009 @ 8:28pm | Chris: you have been updated, thanks!
TDI: Thanks for the heads up! FeedTacoma readers saw it here first! What is going on out in South Tacoma?! First we have a husband/wife power duo term limited out (Ladenburg), then we have another potential husband/wife power duo running (Summers-Kirby); now we have a father/son dynasty in the works! I guess South Tacoma is all about keeping it in the family! |
by NineInchNachos on 4/27/2009 @ 8:39pm | you gotta milk that name recognition man. does Strickland seriously only have a myspace page? I suppose it is still early for official campaign websites etc. |
by NineInchNachos on 4/27/2009 @ 8:42pm | Chris has signs too
 |
by morgan on 5/18/2009 @ 12:22pm | This just in - it looks like the school board seat currently held by Connie Rickman will be strongly contested:
Tacoma, WA – May 18, 2009 – Catherine Ushka-Hall, a long time education advocate, has announced her candidacy for Tacoma School Board. Catherine is seeking position #2, currently held by board member Connie Rickman, who is up for re-election this fall. Catherine’s history of education advocacy includes membership in Tacoma Citizens for Schools, Stand for Children, working on levy and bond campaigns. She has represented the community on education issues ranging from programming, to the sale of school property at school board meetings, and at Tacoma City Council. Ushka –Hall has been involved with education issues since 1989, and the decision to move from advocate to School Director is one she does not take lightly. “I have a unique combination of leadership experience of school issues going back twenty years. I am running because I believe a free public education is the foundation of our democracy. As a mother of two children in the Tacoma Public School System I understand the need for real change today and strategic planning for the future” she said. Ushka-Hall went on to add “Transparency, accountability and leadership are my top priorities. We must restore the public trust by being invitational and accountable. In the words of a dear friend ‘our schools should be hubs- not islands in our community.’ I have worked hard for my community, and will continue to work hard as your Tacoma School Board Director.” In addition to being a passionate advocate for schools and education, Catherine has been an outstanding servant to her community. She is the a former chair of the East Side Neighborhood Council, serves on the City of Tacoma Human Rights Commission, and is also a member of several community groups. Catherine is a former Navy reservist who was recalled to duty following 9/11. “When I left active duty my family and I made a commitment to continue to serve here at home, to the best of our ability, and if I am elected as your school director I will keep that commitment.” Catherine is proud to announce her candidacy with the support of Tacoma City Council Members Julie Anderson, Spiro Manthou, Connie Ladenburg, Metro Parks Board Member Ryan Mello, and Pierce County Councilman Tim Farrell, among many others. |
by morgan on 6/1/2009 @ 8:48pm | Just added John Miles who has thrown his hat in for the hotly contested District 5 South Tacoma seat being vacated by Connie Ladenburg. If anyone knows him or anything about him, please post something. |
by jenyum on 6/3/2009 @ 7:59am | Another school board candidate filed to run yesterday:
Amy Bates works as a prevention specialist, helping to lower the infant mortality rate among African American families in Pierce County. She studied Tacoma extensively for her Masters in Public Action thesis, and served in the military as an MP. Her grown son attended Tacoma Public Schools. Amy serves on the Human Rights Commission and is an active member of a variety of community service organizations. You can read a short bio here: solutions-hce.org/_wsn/page3.html I have spoken with all three of the candidates expected to run for Connie Rickman's seat, and I encourage anyone interested in this election to spend time researching all of the candidates. They all impress me with their dedication to improving Tacoma's schools. I expect that Catherine Ushka Hall will file shortly. |
by morgan on 6/4/2009 @ 6:19am | RR: Friday is the last day. Have you filed? |
by NineInchNachos on 6/4/2009 @ 7:57am | i'm running as a write in candidate for mayor.
remember kids to write in MAYORRR for MAYOR! |
by morgan on 6/22/2009 @ 9:27pm | Added Susanne Marten in the 4th District. Her motto: 4for4.
Not surprisingly, Jake cruises on to an uncontested 2nd term. Meanwhile, the other races are just starting to heat up. If anyone has any candidate links to fill in the gaps, please post them! |
by tsamf on 6/23/2009 @ 1:30pm | This feed is clearly bias towards most of the same old male politicians that have done little to help change Tacoma seeing as how most of the only websites missing are for the women running for office. However maybe that is to their benefit since a simple Google search for Woodards and Murphy pops up not only all of the amazing things they've done for our city and communities but also their campaign sites.
Victoria Woodard's website is www.woodardsforcitycouncil.com Roxanne Murphy's website is www.electroxanne.com That said two lack luster women running for office also have websites missing from here but deserve to be posted and considered all the same I suppose. Catherine Ushka-Hall's is votecatherine.com Beckie Summers-Kirby is beckiesummers.com |
by JesseHillFan on 6/23/2009 @ 3:58pm | I will write in MAYORRR for MAYOR! so R.R. has my vote.
However I am somewhat disappointed that Robert Jesse Hill has not applied for a position.He made the elections colorful and especially entertaining. |
by NineInchNachos on 6/23/2009 @ 4:32pm | My contacts at the melon tell me after the sheriff election he's taking some time off from politics. Nobody's heard from him! |
by jenyum on 6/23/2009 @ 4:47pm | Nobody keeps anybody from posting their own links here, any "bias" is a product of people inexplicably choosing to silently judge the content here without putting in their own $.2 Anyway... How about some functional links? www.woodardsforcitycouncil.com www.electroxanne.com www.votecatherine.com (I would not describe Catherine as "lackluster." I know she's overhauling her website this week which is the only reason I hadn't posted a link.) www.beckiesummers.com (I have no real life experience upon which to judge her lacklusterness, but her husband has done a good job representing South Tacoma.) I have a bias toward not saying anything about anybody until I can back that up with at least a few sentences regarding concrete issues. I don't necessarily share the viewpoints of some of the posters here regarding all of the candidates, but it's kind of silly to say they are biased toward the "same old male candidates" when the conversation has addressed Roxanne Murphy, Marilyn Strickland, Catherine Ushka-Hall and Amy Bates, as well as Chris Van Vechten, who is I believe still in his 20s. |
by morgan on 6/23/2009 @ 8:59pm | tsamf: Thanks for posting the links! You would think the candidates would have more presence on the feed! If the feed has a bias for anything- it's for divergent viewpoints and (mostly) civil exchanges. And I like it! Why don't you come out from behind that cryptic acronym and be a part of a constructive conversation?
|
by Erik on 7/20/2009 @ 8:47am | School Board Candidate Chris Van Vechten Answers Questions from the Tacoma Sun
By Erik Bjornson Introduction: Today, the Tacoma Sun publishes the first of a series of questions and answers to candidates. Below is Tacoma School Board Candidate Chris Van Vechten’s response to critical questions affecting Tacoma School District from an urban perspective. www.tacomasun.com/2009/07/20/school-boar... |
by Erik on 7/22/2009 @ 1:03pm | Read it now
Victoria Woodards Answers Tough Urban Questions From the Tacoma Sun www.tacomasun.com/2009/07/22/victoria-wo... |
by morgan on 7/23/2009 @ 6:34am | Can't wait to read it, Erik!
The TNT is doing some interesting work digging into campaign contributions... and who is making them. Look out! blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/0... |
by NineInchNachos on 7/23/2009 @ 8:40am | wow Jim Merritt is raising some dollars |
by Erik on 7/28/2009 @ 1:01am | Read it now: Keven Rojecki Answers Tough Urban Questions from the Tacoma Sun www.tacomasun.com/2009/07/28/candidate-k... |
by morgan on 7/29/2009 @ 11:34am | This just in: TV Tacoma to broadcast Candidate Forums In an effort to help citizens learn more about the local candidates before casting their votes in the upcoming primary election, TV Tacoma has partnered with the League of Women Voters and students from the University of Washington Tacoma Urban Studies program to present Candidate Forums. Candidates who filed for the offices of City of Tacoma Mayor, Tacoma City Council, Tacoma Civil Service Board, Port of Tacoma Commission and Tacoma School Board were invited to participate in the program. The series will begin airing on TV Tacoma beginning August 1, 2009, and will also be available online at www.tvtacoma.com. TV Tacoma is carried on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems. On Click! TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County , with the exception of University Place , where it can be found on Channel 21. On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County . For programming information or program streaming, visit www.tvtacoma.com. |
by Erik on 8/4/2009 @ 1:09am | Read the latest Tacoma Sun interview of Tacoma City Council candidate Marty Campbell:
www.tacomasun.com/2009/08/04/candidate-m... |
 by fredo on 8/4/2009 @ 7:57am | Well, I've been studying the responses from the candidates to the Tacoma Sun's "tough urban questions."
Quite frankly, there's little point in asking the questions that the Sun poses. The candidates all answer the questions with a sort of expected response. There's no attempt whatsoever to distinguish the positions of the candidates. This is the type of softball "questioning" that provides the illusion of information. In fairness to the Sun, the Pierce County Official voter's Pamphlet isn't any better. |
by morgan on 8/18/2009 @ 9:23pm | Here's the latest update courtesy of the Takhoman:
Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos 1 NP - Bernardo Tuma 6,241 11.78% NP - Connie Bacon 30,723 57.99% NP - Bill Casper 15,566 29.38% Write-In 449 0.85% City of Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Roxanne Murphy 472 22.68% NP - Marty Campbell 1,208 58.05% NP - Susanne Emily Marten 395 18.98% Write-In 6 0.29% Over Votes 0 Under Votes 16 City of Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 838 37.44% NP - Joe Lonergan 937 41.87% NP - John Miles 457 20.42% Write-In 6 0.27% Over Votes 0 Under Votes 12 Tacoma Sch Dist No 10 Dir Pos 2 NP - Jerry Thorpe 3,809 27.47% NP - Catherine Ushka-Hall 3,492 25.18% NP - Connie Rickman 1,619 11.68% NP - Amy Bates 2,204 15.89% NP - Chris Van Vechten 1,979 14.27% NP - Deb Blakeslee 709 5.11% Write-In |
by morgan on 8/18/2009 @ 9:27pm | (yikes! that was a messy post!)
It looks like Marty id off to a good lead. I didn't even realize The School District race looks interesting! And look at Joe go in South Tacoma! The Lonergan dynasty might just continue. OK - 6 write-ins? I can't wait to see those! |
by NineInchNachos on 8/18/2009 @ 9:30pm | I suspect a high level of voter fraud in the school district race. Atleast Van Vechten beat out Connie Rickman! |
by Erik on 8/18/2009 @ 10:29pm | Marty really outperformed with 58 percent of the votes in the primary. It looks very likely it will be Councilmember Campbell soon.
Congrats Marty! |
by jenyum on 8/18/2009 @ 11:51pm | Congratulations to Marty!
|
by morgan on 9/19/2009 @ 11:11pm | Download the 2009 General Election Voters' Pamphlet NOW!
www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/... |
by Erik on 10/12/2009 @ 1:00am | Mayoral Candidate Jim Merritt Answers Tough Urban Questions From the Tacoma Sun
www.tacomasun.com/2009/10/12/mayoral-can... |
by morgan on 10/12/2009 @ 11:38am | I hear absentee ballots are on the way outas I type! Let the countdown to election day begin! |
 by KevinFreitas on 10/12/2009 @ 1:05pm | Got my voter pamphlet in the mail but will be voting in person until they tell me I can't anymore. There's just something about being in a place with neighbors flexing our democratic muscles. Democracy feels good. |
by NineInchNachos on 10/12/2009 @ 1:12pm | tv w video voter pamphlet:
www.tvw.org/capitolrecord/index.php/2009... |
by morgan on 11/1/2009 @ 1:43pm | With two more days to go until election night, this reason to hate Shabro came out: blog.thenewstribune.com/opinion/2009/11/...
Voters didn't really need to put enough postage on ballots. She just said that so she wouldn't have to tap into her budget. Lame. I ended up using to "Forever" stamps because I have no idea how much they're worth! |
by fredo on 11/2/2009 @ 8:05am | Morgan-I think it would be good if people put sufficient postage on the envelopes, but I don't have a problem with the election office paying for any postage insufficiency either. Better to pay the postage due than have thousands of ballots returned to the senders. Cheapskates (like me) can use the free election booths which are located all around town.
The forever stamps are worth 44c each. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 8:58am | I voted. Did you? |
by morgan on 11/3/2009 @ 9:15am | It's show time! |
by fredo on 11/3/2009 @ 10:23am | Morgan and Kev, thanks for the reminder. I almost forgot and i've got several cases of ACORN ballots I need to submit today. |
 by Nick on 11/3/2009 @ 1:31pm | Anyone on the web providing stats on election results? I'd rather not be stuck glued to the TV all evening... |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 4:15pm | Anyone's welcome to post result as they come in here and I'll toss this discussion up on the homepage as well so it's easy to see the latest. Results are easy to get on Pierce County's website at www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/... but anyone who wants to post summaries from time to time are welcome to do so. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 6:03pm | Where have you seen sign wavers? Anderson and Merritt volunteers in Old Town along with Keven's supporters. Strickland's wavers at 30th and Proctor, sad to say, looked like hired pros straight outta Domino's pizza fame. Certainly legit to hire this out but makes it feel kinda canned. |
by NineInchNachos on 11/3/2009 @ 6:05pm | Explicit TRAVELLER fliers spotted on cars in museum district |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 8:10pm | FYI: The county has a results release schedule. Absentee ballot counts to date along with some ranked choice numbers at 8:30pm tonight. From there the polling place numbers will come in waves at 10:30pm, 12am, and 5am. |
by jenyum on 11/3/2009 @ 8:20pm | so far 1033 is failing (yay!) but so is 71 (boo!) county results come in at 8:30. Search #waelex on twitter for more obsessive coverage. |
by jenyum on 11/3/2009 @ 8:32pm | Ref 71 is passing by a decent margin now and likely to stay that way as King County's not in the tally yet. 1033 continues to fail by a wide margin *yes!* |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 8:38pm | Thx for keeping us posted jen. Pierce County's site is still devoid of data but hoping something will show up about local races soon. |
 by ensie on 11/3/2009 @ 8:38pm | Kevin, How was the line at your polling place? There was a 45 minute line at mine. People were *very* grumpy about it. |
by jenyum on 11/3/2009 @ 8:41pm | why must pierce county be sooooo slow, always? Ensie: I think we have the same polling place, mine was very very slow there was a line but probly shouldn't have been. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 8:41pm | Holy nuts, wow. I was there about 7:30am and walked right up. By the time I left there were maybe 2 or 3 people in line. They had 3 people at the front table and a couple others around to help. What do you think the hold up was at yours? |
by fredo on 11/3/2009 @ 8:42pm | I-1033 is now passing by an overwhelming margin (yay!) |
by ensie on 11/3/2009 @ 8:43pm | Not according to the official election results:
vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?R... |
by ensie on 11/3/2009 @ 8:45pm | K - I'm told that our polling place is now a combination of several closed nearby locations. That, and the poor elderly women running the place were totally disorganized. And there seemed to be a huge run of A - L voters while the N - Z's just zipped right through. Jen - do you vote at that small church a few blocks away? |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 8:54pm | Haha, no Pierce data at all among the state results ensie linked to: |
by jenyum on 11/3/2009 @ 8:55pm | yes, that's the one. A very nice older lady but she needed a lot of help finding names, alphabetically. Don't understand why she was manning the A-L list when that is always over-represented there. I think they're sending a signal to switch to mail in... |
 by dolly varden on 11/3/2009 @ 8:58pm | Hooray for King County! Let's hope Pierce County doesn't embarrass itself this evening on 71 and 1033. |
by Erik on 11/3/2009 @ 8:58pm | Exit 133 says the Mayors race is essentially tied with Marilyn with a slight edge. No data on the Auditors web site yet. Miller, Catherine, Julie leading. Joe at 57, Marty at 61. Victoria at 56. www.exit133.com/5580/unofficial-tacoma-e... |
 by Crenshaw Sepulveda on 11/3/2009 @ 9:07pm | Who's conducting the exit polling, the letter carriers? |
by jenyum on 11/3/2009 @ 9:07pm | Catherine Ushka-Hall has a solid lead in the school board race! (so far) Also, congratulations Marty! A very decisive win there! |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 9:46pm | State and Pierce County results thus far:
Initiative Measure No. 1033 YES 50.32% NO 49.68% Referendum Measure No. 71 APPROVED 48.05% REJECTED 51.95% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 APPROVED 33.47% REJECTED 66.53% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 APPROVED 48.40% REJECTED 51.60% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 APPROVED 71.76% REJECTED 28.24% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 1 NP - Connie Bacon 57.54% NP - Bill Casper 41.97% Write-In 0.49% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 2 NP - Charles Kelly Creso 38.79% NP - Dick Marzano 60.70% Write-In 0.50% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 4 NP - Don Meyer 66.87% NP - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek 32.73% Write-In 0.40% Pierce County Auditor NP - Jan Shabro 41.48% NP - Julie Anderson 49.32% NP - Will Baker 8.88% Write-In 0.32% |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 9:50pm | Tacoma info:
Tacoma Mayor NP - Jim Merritt 49.43% NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.29% Write-In 0.28% Tacoma Council-at-Large Position 6 NP - Keven Rojecki 43.34% NP - Victoria R. Woodards 56.27% Write-In 0.39% Tacoma Council District 2 NP - Jake Fey 98.02% Write-In 1.98% Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Marty Campbell 61.09% NP - Roxanne Murphy 38.52% Write-In 0.39% Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Joe Lonergan 57.01% NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 42.66% Write-In 0.33% Tacoma Civil Service Position 1 NP - Mark Craypo 40.69% NP - Charles N. McKenna 58.70% Write-In 0.62% Tacoma Civil Service Position 2 NP - Dan Sexton 97.40% Write-In 2.60% |
by NineInchNachos on 11/3/2009 @ 9:59pm | eat a dick tim eyman |
 by Chris.Tacoma on 11/3/2009 @ 10:19pm | I'm happy with the majority of the results. I really want to see the results parsed by precinct so Tacoma doesn't have to suffer the stigma of failing R71.
I would support appointing Kevin Rojecki to Council. He knows transportation and land use. I'd have to think a bit more about David Boe, as Erik is saying. We should get a good slate of candidates, I'm sure. |
by NineInchNachos on 11/3/2009 @ 10:37pm | hey fredo, at least you'll have Joe Lonergan! |
 by Thorax O'Tool on 11/3/2009 @ 10:47pm | Tacoma Mayor NP - Jim Merritt 49.43% NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.29% Write-In 0.28% oh geeze-louise. That's one of the closest elections I've seen in recent times. And @ dolly varden... "Hooray for King County"? Four dirty words! Shame on you... this is a family-friendly site. |
by dolly varden on 11/3/2009 @ 10:50pm | It pains me to say it Thorax -- if Tacoma vote totals turn around the results on 71 and 1033 I'll happily take it back. Until then, King County residents are saving us from ourselves. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/3/2009 @ 10:53pm | Please, please, please take it back. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 11:01pm | State and Pierce County results thus far:
Initiative Measure No. 1033 YES 50.30% NO 49.70% Referendum Measure No. 71 APPROVED 48.03% REJECTED 51.97% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 APPROVED 33.49% REJECTED 66.51% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 APPROVED 48.41% REJECTED 51.59% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 APPROVED 71.75% REJECTED 28.25% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 1 NP - Connie Bacon 57.55% NP - Bill Casper 41.95% Write-In 0.50% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 2 NP - Charles Kelly Creso 38.66% NP - Dick Marzano 60.83% Write-In 0.51% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 4 NP - Don Meyer 66.77% NP - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek 32.83% Write-In 0.40% Pierce County Auditor NP - Jan Shabro 41.43% NP - Julie Anderson 49.26% NP - Will Baker 8.99% Write-In 0.32% |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 11:06pm | Tacoma Mayor
NP - Jim Merritt 49.40% NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.34% Write-In 0.27% Tacoma Council-at-Large Position 6 NP - Keven Rojecki 43.20% NP - Victoria R. Woodards 56.40% Write-In 0.40% Tacoma Council District 2 NP - Jake Fey 98.02% Write-In 1.98% Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Marty Campbell 61.10% NP - Roxanne Murphy 38.51% Write-In 0.39% Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Joe Lonergan 57.14% NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 42.49% Write-In 0.36% Tacoma Civil Service Position 1 NP - Mark Craypo 40.53% NP - Charles N. McKenna 58.82% Write-In 0.65% Tacoma Civil Service Position 2 NP - Dan Sexton 97.39% Write-In 2.61% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 2 NP - Jerry Thorpe 43.96% NP - Catherine Ushka-Hall 55.62% Write-In 0.42% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 4 NP - Kurt Miller 59.37% NP - Stan Smith 40.17% Write-In 0.46% |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/3/2009 @ 11:08pm | Rejecting term limits extensions... awesome. Rejecting RCV? Guess people want to have parties dictate who can and can't be on he ballot. Sad, sad, sad. I mean, wasn't RCV approved by like 60% a couple years ago? I tell ya, we really need to push for literacy in our schools before the age of 18. "No child left behind" my ass. ...wait. Does Will Baker really have 9%? |
by KevinFreitas on 11/3/2009 @ 11:08pm | No big shifts or changes. Tacoma Mayor's race is still close, Ushka-Hall still has a sizable lead along with Campbell and Woodards. 1033 and 71 have both shifted. I gotta say boo to that. Time for bed. Thanks for sticking around folks! |
by morgan on 11/3/2009 @ 11:20pm | Looks like 1033 is being rejected big time in King County. That could carry it for the state. And R71 is passing. Let's hope these trends continue. I saw Lauren Walker on her way to Jake's party as I was on my way to Marty's - people were just showing up at his shindig. I'm sure it was a raging gathering - the Swiss is an awesome venue. Stopped by Jim's party too- much nervousness in the air - it's a real nail biter! |
by morgan on 11/3/2009 @ 11:22pm | So with Julie getting her spot at the county, we have one potential spot to fill in at the city. David Boe has been talked about. Anyone else? I have a feeling Tacoma's political machine already has it figured out. |
by Erik on 11/3/2009 @ 11:25pm | No doubt Morgan there are many different political factions would would like to get their person appointed. All the more important that Tacomans need to request that the appointee have the best qualifications to serve on council. Being on the Planning Commission and working on many projects qualifies him to be on the council and he has talents that council needs badly at this time. |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 4:22am | "polygamy...is illegal"
homosexuality used to be illegal too. but now we're enlightened. i can't believe you want to treat polygamists as second class citizens. |
by jenyum on 11/4/2009 @ 6:32am | Pierce County voter turnout was the lowest in the state, an abysmal 18%, lower by 15-20 points than most other counties. Individual campaigns did their GOTV thing but if the dems made an effort it wasn't really apparent. This should be a wake up call for legislative elections. |
by jenyum on 11/4/2009 @ 7:05am | never mind... 50,000 ballots still to be counted (only 75,000 counted so far) That's significant enough to make for big changes. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/4/2009 @ 7:28am | Local results as of 5:32am: Initiative Measure No. 1033 YES 50.55% NO 49.45% Referendum Measure No. 71 APPROVED 47.22% REJECTED 52.78% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 APPROVED 32.95% REJECTED 67.05% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 APPROVED 47.82% REJECTED 52.18% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 APPROVED 71.27% REJECTED 28.73% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 1 NP - Connie Bacon 56.90% NP - Bill Casper 42.56% Write-In 0.54% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 2 NP - Charles Kelly Creso 38.24% NP - Dick Marzano 61.20% Write-In 0.55% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 4 NP - Don Meyer 66.62% NP - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek 32.94% Write-In 0.44% Pierce County Auditor NP - Jan Shabro 41.17% NP - Julie Anderson 48.96% NP - Will Baker 9.52% Write-In 0.35% Tacoma Mayor NP - Jim Merritt 49.33% NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.37% Write-In 0.30% Tacoma Council-at-Large Position 6 NP - Keven Rojecki 43.14% NP - Victoria R. Woodards 56.40% Write-In 0.45% Tacoma Council District 2 NP - Jake Fey 97.84% Write-In 2.16% Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Marty Campbell 61.49% NP - Roxanne Murphy 38.17% Write-In 0.34% Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Joe Lonergan 58.30% NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 41.27% Write-In 0.43% Tacoma Civil Service Position 1 NP - Mark Craypo 39.75% NP - Charles N. McKenna 59.49% Write-In 0.76% Tacoma Civil Service Position 2 NP - Dan Sexton 97.19% Write-In 2.81% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 2 NP - Jerry Thorpe 44.25% NP - Catherine Ushka-Hall 55.26% Write-In 0.48% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 4 NP - Kurt Miller 59.27% NP - Stan Smith 40.17% Write-In 0.56% |
by thriceallamerican on 11/4/2009 @ 7:49am | Add me to the list of those down in the dumps over the death of RCV. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/4/2009 @ 7:52am | @thrice: I'm with you. RCV wasn't so difficult and it added a really vital angle to voting (e.g. not all or nuthin') that was an important change towards feeling like my vote counted. |
 by tacoma1 on 11/4/2009 @ 8:13am | @dolly varden I also give Seattle and King County a hurray for being progressive and thoughtful to vote for R71. If it was up to Pierce County voters, bigotry would be the law of the land. I find our intolerance embarrasing. Also up north, for all public transportation advocates.......... Dow Constantine soundly defeating Sarah Palin oops, I meant Susan Hutchinson, is huge for the regions transportation future. If only we could get a public official in Pierce County to champion the cause. |
by Nick on 11/4/2009 @ 8:24am | Personally I think the failure of RCV had more to do with a lack of public education and understanding of the implications of voting for or against it. Very disappointed, but perhaps we will see it again someday at the state level. |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 8:25am | Don't be embarrased tacoma1. Your conclusion that a no vote on R71 could only be rooted in bigotry is false. |
by tacoma1 on 11/4/2009 @ 8:29am | @fredo OK, then............. I'm embarrassed by the homophobes too. |
 by ixia on 11/4/2009 @ 8:47am | We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. |
by ixia on 11/4/2009 @ 8:59am | Not believing others are equally deserving of the rights you enjoy is bigotry by definition, fredo. |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 9:10am | R71 will make health plans more expensive for employers and some will probably respond by trimming back benefits or canceling coverage altogether. Some may even respond by reducing their workforce. This, at time when unemployment levels in our state are spiraling out of control.
Here's an unrelated observation on the post-election comments. When the voters approved a candidate or initiative that the commentor favored then that is conclusive proof that the voters have the wisdom of Solomon. But when they select a different candidate or initiative then they are easily misled fools, bigots or homophobes. But we're discussing the same group of voters. Which is it? Are the voters wise or are they stupid? |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 9:12am | "all men are created equal"
even polygamists? |
by tacoma1 on 11/4/2009 @ 9:17am | @fredo OK then............I'm embarrassed by Pierce County voters who value their own cash more than the civil rights of their fellow citizens. I'm also embarrassed by Pierce County residents that don't know the difference between polygamy which is illegal in this state, and a committed relationship between two consenting adults. |
by jenyum on 11/4/2009 @ 9:31am | I'm embarrased that the gen x and gen y vote must have just not turned out. Why ccan we not get it together to vote more than once every 4 years? |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 9:41am | "polygamy is illegal"
Didn't homosexuality used to be illegal? What difference does it make if the relationship commitment is between 2 consenting adults or between 3 consenting adults? Is it really implausible that 3 people could share a loving committed relationship? |
by tacoma1 on 11/4/2009 @ 9:50am | @fredo
Polygamy has nothing to do with R-71 or homosexualty, and I'm even more embarrassed now. |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 10:13am | tacoma1- R71 is about extending rights to a group which was previously considered unworthy of such rights. R71 supporters should recognize the irony of continuing to discriminate against polygamists better than anyone else. Are we all considered equal, even polygamists, or aren't we? |
by thriceallamerican on 11/4/2009 @ 10:25am | Before Godwin's law takes over, a change of subject...
Now that Pierce Co voters have repealed RCV, anyone want to give the people "what they want" with a top-two primary sabotage? Pack up a primary ballot with "prefers Democrat" candidates to see how much it screws up who makes the general election... (Alternately, pack it with "prefers Republican" candidates to dilute that vote. Either way, piss the parties off.) |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 11:02am | No need to invoke Mr. Godwin.
The title of the discussion is "Election 2009" and the thread is discussing the implications of the passage of Referendum 71. But I'm willing to discuss RCV. I think voters should have stayed the course with the new but somewhat more complicated RCV. I was disappointed that the voters decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/4/2009 @ 4:37pm | Thing that bothers me, is that 71 gives "domestic partnership" benefits to homosexuals, but not straight couples. I as a heterosexual, cannot put my long-time live-in GF (if I had one) on my health insurance. But if I was gay, I could put my long-time live-in BF on my policy.
That is not fair. Some argue that "you're just not getting married, but you can" and that "gays can't marry". Well, firstly, not everyone wants to get married... the drawbacks are sometimes not worth the effort. Also anyone can hop a plane to Boston to get married there. What's legal in Massachusetts is upheld in the rest of the 49 (kinda like 1st cousins in West Virginia). But that's not my point. I believe that R-71 is not fair, extending marriage-type benefits to one group but leaving out a larger portion of the population. The State needs to legalize gay marriage... with same benefits and disadvantages, or it needs to offer "domestic partnership" benefits to straight couples as well. Fair is fair. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/4/2009 @ 6:07pm | Next results update from Pierce County is at 6pm. Anyone placing bets on where the close races will be at then? |
by NineInchNachos on 11/4/2009 @ 6:21pm | dunno, kevin. but if there is any arguments the first person i'm going to call is tim farrell blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/11...
he's the new chuck Norris |
by Erik on 11/4/2009 @ 6:27pm | Update a mere 117 votes now separates the candidates running fr mayor with the edge to Strickland, the race has greatly narrowed. Strickland now leads by 0.58 percent. Kevin's post above at 5:32 a.m. this morning showed a 1.04 lead for Strickland. We are not going know the results for another week likely and there could be a recount. I would not be surprised if some additional staff is deployed by the campaigns to the Auditor's office. Oh boy. |
by KevinFreitas on 11/4/2009 @ 6:29pm | Here's the latest from the fine Pierce County elections folks: Initiative Measure No. 1033 YES 50.27% NO 49.73% Referendum Measure No. 71 APPROVED 46.92% REJECTED 53.08% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 APPROVED 32.51% REJECTED 67.49% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 APPROVED 47.23% REJECTED 52.77% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 APPROVED 71.19% REJECTED 28.81% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 1 NP - Connie Bacon 56.73% NP - Bill Casper 42.75% Write-In 0.52% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 2 NP - Charles Kelly Creso 38.07% NP - Dick Marzano 61.41% Write-In 0.53% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 4 NP - Don Meyer 67.08% NP - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek 32.50% Write-In 0.42% Pierce County Auditor NP - Jan Shabro 41.30% NP - Julie Anderson 48.88% NP - Will Baker 9.48% Write-In 0.34% Tacoma Mayor NP - Jim Merritt 49.58% ( was 49.33%) NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.16% (was 50.37%) Write-In 0.26% Tacoma Council-at-Large Position 6 NP - Keven Rojecki 43.35% NP - Victoria R. Woodards 56.21% Write-In 0.44% Tacoma Council District 2 NP - Jake Fey 97.60% Write-In 2.40% Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Marty Campbell 62.05% NP - Roxanne Murphy 37.60% Write-In 0.35% Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Joe Lonergan 58.22% NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 41.40% Write-In 0.38% Tacoma Civil Service Position 1 NP - Mark Craypo 40.01% NP - Charles N. McKenna 59.27% Write-In 0.72% Tacoma Civil Service Position 2 NP - Dan Sexton 97.19% Write-In 2.81% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 2 NP - Jerry Thorpe 44.43% NP - Catherine Ushka-Hall 55.15% Write-In 0.42% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 4 NP - Kurt Miller 59.38% NP - Stan Smith 40.09% Write-In 0.53% |
by KevinFreitas on 11/4/2009 @ 6:31pm | The spread for Tacoma Mayor went from just over 1% to .58%. There's currently only 117 votes separating the two! Be interesting to see if anything shifts much more in the coming days. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/4/2009 @ 6:46pm | .58%=117 votes, thus there are a total of about 20,200 votes counted. Using the 2000 census numbers, 25.8% of Tacomans are under 18. Assuming the city's number of 203,000 is accurate, that would imply approximately 52,375 non-voters. So, thus there are somewhere about 150,000 eligible voters in Tacoma. So at this point, that's roughly a 13.4% turn out for the mayoral race. That sucks. The "leadership" of the city decided by about only one out of every seven voters. And we wonder why the same incompotent morons keep getting elected. I hope the final turn out is better than 1/7 |
by Erik on 11/4/2009 @ 6:54pm | Here's a bit of analysis: From this morning, the Auditor counted 3610 votes. Merritt had a gain of 54. The Secretary of State says that there are still 50,000 Pierce County Ballots to be counted. vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/VoterTurnout.a... An unknown number of them being from the city. Yet, approximately 25 percent of Pierce County is Tacoma. Thus, there should be about 12,500 City of Tacoma votes left to count. I do not know where the remaining votes are coming from so it is hard to pick out any trends. |
by Chris.Tacoma on 11/4/2009 @ 6:56pm | You know what's even more pathetic, the number of people who voted in Tacoma, but then didn't get to the Mayor's race. It's a pretty big hunk of people that could have had a say. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/4/2009 @ 7:00pm | Well, that gain of 54 in 3610 is 1.49%
So, if that trend continues, and there are 12,500 more Tacoma votes to count, then that would be 186 more votes, thus leading to a 69 vote margin. Granted, I suspect that there are more than 12,500 more Tacoma votes out there. But, yeah, I'm really beginning to feel that there will be an insanely low margin here, perhaps down to dozens of votes. Depending on how gracious the loser is at that time, there might well be a recount. I hate to bring up the 206, but their mayoral race is also in a similar dead heat with only 462 votes between them. Interesting, interesting. |
by fredo on 11/4/2009 @ 7:39pm | Thorax, Jen pointed out the disappointing voter turnout earlier and your analysis seems to confirm this. Very sad that people don't recognize the obligation they have to become informed and vote in these elections.
RE: possible mayoral recounts. I don't think it's up to the candidates to determine if there is to be recount. If the margin is within a certain percentage the recount is automatic. |
by Erik on 11/4/2009 @ 7:45pm | Yes, Fredo, there is a provision for an automatic recount. But I think there are ones candidates can pay for if they want.
Things can get pretty intense and there are almost endless techniques to tweek out one's vote count and dispute votes. |
by morgan on 11/4/2009 @ 10:34pm | However, a low voter turnout this year could make it easier next year for a citizens ballot campaign to build a streetcar system in Tacoma. Of course the economy would have to turnaround first.
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by morgan on 11/4/2009 @ 10:34pm | I'm curious to see the write-ins from the ballots. Those are always fun! |
by Erik on 11/5/2009 @ 1:24am | From the Tribune on recounts (I guess that could soon be a new topic): State law clearly details how close the race must be before any mandatory recount is triggered. Elections officials must conduct a machine recount if the candidates are separated by fewer than 2,000 votes and less than half of a percentage point of combined votes cast for both candidates. A manual hand recount would automatically occur if the margin is fewer than 150 votes and one-quarter of a percent, state law says. The law also allows for any candidate to pay for a full or partial recount if the final tallies dont trigger an official one, though neither candidate said theyre thinking that far ahead. www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/... Right now, the candidates are certainly within 2000 votes of each other and are 0.58 percent apart, very close to recount range. |
by tacoma1 on 11/5/2009 @ 7:30am | @Morgan If we can get a pro transit - pro streetcar person on the council, we could have politcal support and planning for streetcars underway real soon. We don't need the economy on the upswing to plan, just to build. And we probably can't build without help from federal funds - which we won't get without the planning already done. Portland has already been to the federal piggybank for help to build their streetcars. But they had everything planned and alot of local funding already set up. And their politcians and voters understand the environmental and economic benefits to the community of streetcars and lightrail. I know that I will be emailing and calling my councilman - Jake Fey, the new mayor (?), and Julie Anderson to lobby for whoever will fill her seat to have transit planning experience as a requirement on their resume. |
by fredo on 11/5/2009 @ 8:29am | tacoma1@ Its going to be hard for an appointed councilmember to bring much of an agenda with him or her. They don't come into the office with any mandate or constituency whatsoever.
RE: Julie Anderson's opinion on who will fill her seat. Who cares, she's a quitter who just crapped on the city. |
 by Mofo from the Hood on 11/5/2009 @ 9:02am | Wow. I just had this thought: Most politicians are middle-of-the-road crowd pleasers. But it was just my imagination. |
by tacoma1 on 11/5/2009 @ 9:03am | @fredo I'm not interested in Julie Anderson's opinion. I'm interested in making sure that the council and Ms. Anderson is aware of my opinion. Without a constituency or mandate, the new appointee should be free to put their own stamp on the position. |
by morgan on 11/5/2009 @ 9:22am | I hearby throw my hat into the ring. I would love to work on making streetcars happen in Tacoma (and get compenstated for it!) |
by thriceallamerican on 11/5/2009 @ 9:24am | Go, Morgan, go!
I'd throw Chris Karnes into the mix too... |
by Erik on 11/5/2009 @ 11:22am | I hearby throw my hat into the ring. I would love to work on making streetcars happen in Tacoma (and get compenstated for it!) Cool. Appoint Morgan Alexander to Tacoma City Council. Q: How much do you know about streetcars? |
by Nick on 11/5/2009 @ 2:32pm | I'll second that motion to appoint Morgan to the council. |
by morgan on 11/5/2009 @ 3:17pm | Nick & Thrice: Thanks! We need all the people we can get from outside the machine!
|
 by dltooley on 11/5/2009 @ 5:45pm | Does Anderson keep her ST Board seat? (It's an appointed seat from the electeds pool, but I'm not sure if she can switch the qualifying position.) |
by KevinFreitas on 11/5/2009 @ 6:27pm | Here's the latest from Pierce County as of a bit before 5pm: Initiative Measure No. 1033 YES 49.55% NO 50.45% Referendum Measure No. 71 APPROVED 47.07% REJECTED 52.93% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 APPROVED 32.44% REJECTED 67.56% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 APPROVED 47.17% REJECTED 52.83% Proposed Charter Amendment No. 3 APPROVED 71.14% REJECTED 28.86% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 1 NP - Connie Bacon 56.86% NP - Bill Casper 42.65% Write-In 0.49% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 2 NP - Charles Kelly Creso 37.98% NP - Dick Marzano 61.51% Write-In 0.51% Port of Tacoma Commissioner Pos. 4 NP - Don Meyer 67.71% NP - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek 31.90% Write-In 0.39% Pierce County Auditor NP - Jan Shabro 41.14% NP - Julie Anderson 49.51% NP - Will Baker 9.03% Write-In 0.32% Tacoma Mayor NP - Jim Merritt 49.09% NP - Marilyn Strickland 50.66% Write-In 0.25% Tacoma Council-at-Large Position 6 NP - Keven Rojecki 43.33% NP - Victoria R. Woodards 56.27% Write-In 0.40% Tacoma Council District 2 NP - Jake Fey 97.68% Write-In 2.32% Tacoma Council District 4 NP - Marty Campbell 61.76% NP - Roxanne Murphy 37.85% Write-In 0.39% Tacoma Council District 5 NP - Joe Lonergan 58.36% NP - Beckie Summers Kirby 41.26% Write-In 0.39% Tacoma Civil Service Position 1 NP - Mark Craypo 40.08% NP - Charles N. McKenna 59.24% Write-In 0.67% Tacoma Civil Service Position 2 NP - Dan Sexton 97.24% Write-In 2.76% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 2 NP - Jerry Thorpe 44.66% NP - Catherine Ushka-Hall 54.96% Write-In 0.37% Tacoma SD No. 10 Director Pos. 4 NP - Kurt Miller 59.79% NP - Stan Smith 39.74% Write-In 0.47% |
by KevinFreitas on 11/5/2009 @ 6:28pm | The margin between Merritt and Strickland has widened slightly to 369 votes or 1.57%. |
by Erik on 11/5/2009 @ 6:30pm | Wow. Big change. She has tripled her lead. |
by fredo on 11/5/2009 @ 8:17pm | If indeed Mr. Merritt loses the election I think we need to take a closer look at the hit piece that the Strickland campaign sent out a few days before the election. It showed eight of the city council members holding Strickland for Mayor advertisements. Isn't there a single council member who recognizes that this crosses the line? They were all laughing in the picture. I guess the joke was on us. |
by ixia on 11/5/2009 @ 9:12pm | Mike Lonergan recognizes how wrong it is. The only one with a real back bone and a reading, inquiring mind on our current circus of a council. One of 9. |
by jenyum on 11/5/2009 @ 9:24pm | Morgan, yes!
And after your appointment you should run again, and win! You have actually told us all what you stand for, on numerous occasions! Revolutionary! |
by fredo on 11/5/2009 @ 9:31pm | You're right Ixia, Mike declined to participate. A tip of the hat to our outgoing councilman with a conscience, Mike Lonergan.
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by NineInchNachos on 11/5/2009 @ 11:45pm |  |
by NineInchNachos on 11/5/2009 @ 11:46pm | and they wont let the traveller sing about RCV at public comment because 'you cant discuss issues before the voters' |
by tacoma1 on 11/6/2009 @ 7:59am | @dtooley
J. Anderson will be vacating her ST board seat. Tacoma actually lost a lot of influence when John Ladenburg left the ST board due to term limits as Pierce County Exec. Currently, for Tacoma and Pierce County, all we have is Julie Anderson, who is leaving, Claudia Thomas, who is a great supporter of transit, but represents Lakewood, and Pat McCarthy who represents all of Pierce County, and is a transit novice. It would be important for Tacoma to get a knowledgeable pro transit and pro Tacoma boardmember back on the ST board. |
by Nick on 11/6/2009 @ 9:40am | I realize she doesn't sit on the board, but how pro-Tacoma is Joni Earl (ST CEO and Tacoma resident)? There must be some value in that, not to diminish the point tacoma1 is making. We definitely need to ensure we are properly represented. |
by tacoma1 on 11/6/2009 @ 10:08am | @Nick
I can't answer that specifically. I do know that she has been pretty much heralded for turning that agency around. She has a reputation for being extremely smart and conscientious. As the CEO, she would certainly get paid enough to live in Seattle if she chose too, so one has to imagine that she lives in Tacoma for the same reason that most of us do............by choice! That is pro Tacoma enough for me. I have seen her commuting on the Sounder train before, but have never introduced myself. She had her head buried in stacks of paperwork, and seemed very busy. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 11/6/2009 @ 11:24am | And yet we're still waiting for ST to finish that light rail... and probably will wait for another 20 years until every neighborhood in Seattle and Bellevue are on streetcars. Then they might have a few bucks to spend here. |
by Nick on 11/6/2009 @ 4:44pm | We don't have to wait for ST to throw us a bone, I say we flex our own muscle and build or streetcar network homegrown style. |
by Erik on 11/6/2009 @ 5:05pm | Now Strickland is 723 votes ahead, leading now by 2.54 percent, and she is now likely the next Mayor of Tacoma: Jim Merritt 13,812 48.61% Marilyn Strickland 14,535 51.15% Congrats Marilyn! |
by tacoma1 on 11/6/2009 @ 5:08pm | @Nick You are right. Seattle isn't waiting for ST to build exactly what they want, we shouldn't either. Matter of fact, their probable new Mayor, Mike McGinn has said that he wants to go to the Seattle voters in 2 years for a vote to fund a Seattle only lightrail expansion. seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsn... If that happens, we can't wait either. Seattle may not feel any urgency in 2016 for ST3, and without Seattle's pro transit voters, ST3 passing wouldn't be easy. @Erik I agree, although it's not official yet, the lead would be almost insurmountable now. Congrats again to Marilyn Strickland. I think it's interesting that our mayoral race is somewhat mirroring the Seattle race. The more votes that come in, the more the lead is widening for both candidates. In both races, the more socially conservative candidates are losing. |
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