Fagan takes command in 9th District race

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

Susan Fagan of Pullman was the apparent winner Tuesday night in the historic 9th District matchup that pitted two Republican women against each other.

Fagan got 11,421 votes, or 55 percent, compared with Pat Hailey's 9,222 votes, or 45 percent.

The predominantly rural Eastern Washington district covers Asotin, Whitman, Adams, Garfield and parts of Spokane and Franklin counties.

Hailey, of Mesa, led in north Franklin County with 973 votes, or 84 percent, compared with 184 votes, or 16 percent, for Fagan, but that wasn't enough to overcome Fagan's apparent wins in more heavily populated Whitman and Spokane counties.

Although this is an off year for legislative elections, the 9th District seat was left open by the death of Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, in December, and the decision by Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax, Hailey's appointed replacement, not to seek election this fall.

The election is the first time two Republicans have battled for the seat.

Under the old primary system, Democrats and Republicans each were guaranteed a spot on the ballot when they nominated a candidate.

But the new primary election system advances the top two vote-getters to the general election -- which can mean two politicians of the same party facing off in November.

Some have argued that leaves voters little choice, and in the 9th District race they chose between two candidates who both had married into farm families and run agricultural businesses, and who took similar stances on issues.

Both describe themselves as conservatives who favor fiscal responsibility and oppose raising taxes, as well as promoting agricultural interests in the Legislature.

Fagan said she thinks voters saw a difference in the two women's experience.

Fagan worked for 15 year as an aide to three U.S. senators and then as government relations director for Pullman-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

She also is a member of the Association of Washington Business and has worked to promote a more business-friendly regulatory climate in the state.

"I think that (voters) are hiring me for a job, and so they looked at the resumes and laid side by side the extent of my experience in a number of areas," she said. "It is broad experience."

Hailey, Steve Hailey's widow, is a former member of the North Franklin School Board and school registrar, and said she ran for the position in part to protect levy equalization money and basic education.

She said if the results stand once all the ballots are counted, she'll find other ways to continue promoting the issues passionate to her.

"I will always work for education and agriculture and to help businesses get started and stay in business in Washington state," she said. "That's our economy."

The election results are to be certified Nov. 24.

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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Fagan takes command in 9th District race

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer