Fifth District incumbents win, Democrats take 41st seats
December 2, 2008
By Jim Feehan
The majority of voters in Issaquah’s two legislative districts voted party line — 5th District voters re-elected incumbent Republicans and the 41st District voted in a slate of Democrats.King County election’s officials certified the election results Nov. 25.
Rep. Jay Rodne (R-North Bend) and Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R-Maple Valley) cruised to comfortable wins over Democratic challengers Jon Viebrock and Phyllis Huster.
Pflug and Rodne each received about 60 percent of the vote compared to their Democratic challengers.
Rep. Glenn Anderson, the Republican incumbent from Fall City, had a closer contest with Democrat David Spring. In early election returns, Spring was ahead, but Anderson won by 2,201 votes out of about 70,000 ballots cast in the race.
In the 41st District, Democrat Fred Jarrett easily won the state Senate race against Republican Bob Baker, an Alaska Airlines pilot. Jarrett, a four-term state House member and former Mercer Island city councilman, had about 59 percent of the vote.
In one of the most closely observed House races in the state, Democrat Marcie Maxwell, a Realtor and Renton School Board member, won with about 51 percent of the vote against Republican Steve Litzow, a technology entrepreneur and a Mercer Island City Councilman. In the final tally, Maxwell won by 748 votes.
The two were vying for the House seat held by Jarrett, who opted to run for the Senate after incumbent Democrat Brian Weinstein announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election.
Judy Clibborn, a Democrat from Mercer Island, was running unopposed in the district’s other House race.
Issaquah voters resoundingly approved a $4.5 million bond measure to build a new fire station on Maple Street Northwest at state Route 900. The vote was better than a 2-to-1 ratio in favor.
Construction is likely in 2009. But first, architects must complete design of the building, money must be transferred from Fire District 10, permits must be obtained and city officials must secure the bonds.
The station is estimated to cost about $8 million including bond costs. Issaquah would contribute $1.5 million, while King County Fire District 10 has committed $2 million.
The 20-year, general-obligation bonds are for $4.5 million and would cost property owners an estimated 5.77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That works out to $28.85 per year for a house worth $500,000.
However, because the city this year will pay off a previously issued bond (for which taxpayers paid approximately 4.58 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2008), the net increase over 2008 is estimated to be less than $6.
In 2006, city officials spent $1 million to buy the building site from Sound Transit. Another $55,000 went to schematic design and cost estimating for the project.
The station is envisioned as having 11,257 square feet, with three equipment bays and incorporating highly energy-efficient materials and mechanical systems.
When completed, the new station will replace the temporary Station 72 across state Route 900 on Maple Street Northwest.
About 84 percent of King County’s 1.1 million registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 4 election.
Final election results
5th Legislative District
Senate
Cheryl Pflug (R)
43,178 — 59.89 percent
Phyllis Huster (D)
28,851 — 40.02 percent
Position 1
Jay Rodne (R)
41,630 — 59.65 percent
Jon Viebrock (D)
28,089 — 40.25 percent
Position 2
Glenn Anderson (R)
35,913 — 51.52 percent
David Spring (D)
33,712 — 48.36 percent
41st Legislative District
Senate
Fred Jarrett (D)
38,327 — 59.42 percent
Bob Baker (R)
26,092 — 40.45 percent
Position 1
Marcie Maxwell (D)
32,571 — 50.51 percent
Steve Litzow (R)
31,823 — 49.35 percent
Proposition No. 1 —
Fire station construction bonds
Yes 8,669 — 67.13 percent
No 4,244 — 32.87 percent
Reach Reporter Jon Savelle at 392-6434, ext. 234, or jsavelle@isspress.com, and Reporter Jim Feehan at 392-6434, ext. 239, jfeehan@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.
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