Mike Hope

The automatic recount process will begin today in the first of two state legislative district races whose election results were close enough, within 150 votes and less than 0.25 percent, to require a state mandated recount.

The 6th LD race between John Driscoll (D-Spokane) and Rep. John Ahern (R-Spokane) will see its votes retabulated this afternoon and again Wednesday and Thursday by election officials with observers from both parties on hand. Results will be certified at a Spokane County canvassing board meeting Friday morning. Driscoll currently leads Ahern by 74 votes out of 70,140 cast. The same district also saw challenger Kevin Parker (R-Spokane) unseat Rep. Don Barlow (D-Spokane) in the election for the district's other state House seat this November.

The state's other recount will take place beginning Tuesday, December 9 in the 44th LD. There challenger Mike Hope (R-Everett) has a 118 vote lead over Rep. Liz Loomis (D-Snohomish), who was appointed midway through the last session. Those results will be certified on Friday, Devember 12.

More than a week after last Tuesday’s election, with nearly every ballot tallied and reported, three state legislative races are on the cusp of requiring a mandatory recount, which would come about in a race decided by a margin of less than one half of one percent.

Two of those elections, the 6th Legislative District matchup of Rep. John Ahern (R-Spokane) and John Driscoll (D-Spokane) and the 44th LD race with Rep. Liz Loomis (D-Snohomish) and Mike Hope (R-Everett), are almost certain to require another round, and may even call for a manual recount.

As of Tuesday night, the challengers held narrow leads in each district, and county elections officials predict that fewer than one thousand ballots remain.

Almost $22 million was spent by independent parties on behalf of candidates in this year’s election, about ten percent of which was done at the legislative district level.

Leading the charge were three of the Republicans top challengers. Outside interests spent $172,548 on Kevin Parker’s (R-Spokane) behalf in the 6th District and $147,143 on Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) in the 26th. Both won their races to become the first Republicans in years to take back a Democratic seat.

Third parties also spent more than $130,000 Toby Nixon (R-Kirkland) in the 45th LD. Many Republicans, and privately some Democrats, felt that Nixon would win his race, but he was turned back by incumbent Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland).

Two weeks ago in Denver, Washington state Speaker of the House Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) remained hopeful of the Democrats' long term strategy for maintaining a large House majority, but after August's "top two" primary, House Republicans are as hopeful as ever.

Kevin Carns, the Director of the House Republican Organizational Committee, told PolitickerWA.com that, after analyzing an extensive series of numbers, House Republicans should be able to reduce the Democratic majority by at least two seats in 2008.

"From a macro perspective we are in very, very good shape," Carns said. "We are in a strong position to pick up a couple seats minimum."

SEATTLE -

Dino Rossi accepts the endorsement of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild: Politicker photoThe Dino Rossi for governor campaign held a press conference today at the Seattle Police Officers' Guild headquarters in SoDo to announce the Guild's endorsement of Rossi for governor. The Seattle Guild, which represents 1202 officers and sergeants in Seattle, did not endorse either candidate in 2004.

Sergeant Richard O'Neill, President of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild said the endorsement was based in large part on their belief that Rossi would not allow the early release of convicted felons from prison, and that he would do better to improve the police officers' retirement system.

"Dino's proven leadership and continued commitment to law enforcement and public safety will serve the citizens of Washington well," O'Neill said in a press release accompanying the conference.  "We look forward to his continued support of the men and women of law enforcement and working closely with him in the future."