Second representative spot uncertain

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

One candidate appeared poised on Tuesday to advance to the Nov. 3 general election in the race for 9th District state representative, but who will join her on the ballot remained too close to call.

Republican Susan Fagan of Pullman appeared to be leading the five-way race with 5,387 votes, or 29 percent.

But only four-tenths of a percentage point separated Republican Pat Hailey and Democrat Glen Stockwell for the second slot on the general election ballot.

Hailey, of Mesa, had 4,769 votes, or 25.6 percent, as of 8 p.m. Tuesday when results were posted on the Secretary of State's website. Stockwell followed close behind with 4,694 votes, or 25.2 percent.

Republican Art Swannack of Lamont lagged behind Stockwell with 2,258 votes, or 12 percent. Republican Darin Watkins of Palouse had 1,519 votes, or 8 percent.

The top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election, but with votes yet to be counted in the six counties making up the 9th District, it remains to be seen whether Hailey or Stockwell will be on the ballot.

The seat was left open after the death of Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, from cancer in December, and the decision by appointed successor Don Cox, R-Colfax, not to run.

Pat Hailey -- Steve Hailey's widow -- said she expected the primary would be close given the number of candidates involved.

"The vote gets split," she said. "You just have to hope it splits your way."

She remained hopeful that not only would she pull further ahead of Stockwell, but maybe even pull ahead of Fagan once all of the votes in more heavily-populated Spokane and Whitman counties roll in later this week.

"I have watched Spokane and Whitman county voting before," she said. "There are a lot of people this time that didn't vote early. I was getting calls and e-mails as late as yesterday wanting my opinions and how I felt about certain things. I figure there are a lot of votes out there."

Fagan said she felt good about her position at the front of the pack, but acknowledged there are votes yet to be counted.

Fagan expects she will have a spot on the ballot in November, and said she'll wage a hard campaign whether it's Hailey or Stockwell who opposes her.

Stockwell, of Ritzville, said he wanted to wait and see what happens before commenting on the race, but was proud of his showing considering he hasn't had the support of the local or state Democrats in the primary. He ran for the seat as a Republican in 2006.

"I think what we're seeing is a transition in politics here where people are really starting to think on their own," he said. "The two-party system seems kind of destructive to helping the general population in moving forward."

More results in the 9th District race should be available by Friday.

In the 15th District, which includes Sunnyside and Goldendale, voters advanced Republican Rep. David Taylor of Moxee after early returns show him winning the primary election in that race with 7,466 votes, or 66 percent.

Taylor was appointed to fill the seat of Dan Newhouse, who was appointed Gov. Chris Gregoire's agriculture director earlier this year.

Still undecided was the second advancement in that race. Democrat John "Jobs" Gotts of White Salmon had 2,143 votes, or 19 percent, even though he had abandoned his bid to work on business ventures in California.

Democrat Donicio Marichalar, a consultant and former state social worker from Grandview, had 1,781 votes, or 16 percent, under early returns.

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Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Second representative spot uncertain

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer