INSIDE

Larsen spanks opponents in heavy Democratic primary turnout

By Meg Olson

Looking at the September 17 primary election numbers in Point Roberts could convince county Democrats to hold their conventions here.

While the rest of the county showed strong Republican numbers the 160 Point Roberts voters who turned up at the polls threw heavy support behind Democrat candidates.

Congressman Rick Larsen was the runaway favorite, way out in front of Republican contenders in the race for second congressional district representative.

The only Democrat on the primary ballot, Larsen drew 71 percent of the vote on the Point in a field of six candidates. In Whatcom County he got 47 percent of the vote, and 50 percent statewide. Republicans Herb Mayer and Norma Smith were tied on the Point with nine percent of the vote each.

Meyer was the top Republican in Whatcom County, with 22 percent of the vote, followed by Smith with 16 percent. Statewide, Smith was ahead with 21 percent of the vote to Meyer’s 18. The Green party put on a good show in Whatcom County, with candidate Bern Haggerty garnishing 4.4 percent of the vote, compared to 2.6 statewide, but he was a dud on the Point, pulling in only two votes. In the 42nd legislative district county sheriff Dale Brandland was 1,600 votes out ahead of incumbent Senator Georgia Gardner, but Gardner remained the strong favorite on the Point where she drew 62 percent of the vote.

Gardner was unruffled by the poor showing in the district, blaming it on a largely Republican turnout countywide at poorly attended polls. “Nobody showed up,” she said. “Democrats just aren’t as motivated. All the super conservative voters turned out and there was no balance.” She pointed to strong showings in the county by candidates like Meyer and Supreme Court hopeful Jim Johnson as indications the right turned out but the left and middle stayed home.

“I pay attention to them,” is why Gardner said she pulls in a lot of votes from Point Roberts. “The Point has suffered mightily just being ignored. I’ve succeeded on some crusades and others I haven’t but I think people realize I work for them.”

Incumbents topped the primary for seats in the state house of representatives for the 42nd district. Kelli Linville and Doug Ericksen were 10 to 20 percent ahead of their challengers. On the Point, however, the strong Democrat leaning came through again, with challenger Jim Boyle sneaking two votes ahead of Ericksen and Linville was over 30 percent out in front of Gene Goldsmith.

Point Roberts had a strong turnout with 28 percent of the 569 registered voters casting a ballot, compared with 21 percent in the county and 23 percent statewide. While most voters in the election cast their ballot by mail, Point Roberts had twice as strong a poll showing, with 40 percent voting in person. In Whatcom County 72 percent of ballots were cast by absentee voters in the primary.

BACK TO TOP