Washblog

The first thing that jumps out from these numbers is that the Democratic position prevailed in every instance except the PUD race. Perhaps the number that stands out the most, however, is the contest for I-937. If there was a more direct tie-in between races, I couldn't tell you when I've seen it. In his race for PUD Commissioner, Eric made clean energy and conservation a cornerstone. He included information and his endorsement of I-937 on his own literature. The bottom line is this: If the same Snohomish County residents who voted in favor of I-937 had voted for Eric, he would be the next Snohomish County PUD Commissioner.

Now this isn't to say that the folks over at I-937 (or any other campaign) had any special responsibility for helping Eric over the finish line. Each candidate and campaign should be responsible for their own success or failure and I am sure that Eric feels the same way. Still, I am left wondering here if some tighter alliances might not have been built. I do know for instance that Chris McCullough, I-937 campaign manager, was asked about a relationship with Eric's campaign and basically said that, while they would be pleased to have Eric mention them on his literature, they would not be endorsing any particular candidates. Again, while I respect this position, I would think they might have found it more to their advantage to promote a "clean energy friendly" candidate over an incumbent PUD commissioner who had spoken out against I-937 as an "unfunded mandate" and has reaffirmed her opposition to the measure since her re-election.

Sadly, the one person I was most disappointed in this campaign season is Jay Inslee. Congressman Inslee was a primary spokesperson for I-937 and one of the most prominent backers for Democratic candidates throughout the state. Yet when he was asked on numerous occasions about providing any visible support to Eric's campaign, Jay either avoided returning calls or emails or, on the one occasion I know of where he was approached face to face (at the Snohomish County Democrats October Gala), he told Jackie Minchew - 44th LD Vice Chair and Teegarden steering committee member - that he "was still considering any involvement."  Even though Eric and Jay come from the same party and, this year, championed clean energy in Snohomish County and the fact that Jay is a constituent of the Snohomish County PUD, he remained silent until the end.

I do want to add a quick word about the support of the Snohomish County Democrats at this point. Eric was, in fact, endorsed by each and received funds from many of the seven Democratic LDs in the county as well as the county organization itself. While my information tells me that he was basically shunned by the (un) coordinated campaign during phone banking operations, he was invited and accepted the invitation to include his literature in "stuffings" for precinct "lit drops" that the county party organized.

In the end, I am proud of the race that Eric ran. He managed a county wide campaign from a dining room table with an all volunteer staff of amateur campaign advisors and a dedicated cadre of campaign volunteers. Most of his support came from the ranks of the Progressive Caucus of Snohomish County Democrats, the Stanwood Democrats, and Democracy for Snohomish County. He managed to keep a two term incumbent to less than 60% of the vote. To date, Eric has received some 62,479 votes; just 6,000 fewer than republican US Senate candidate Mike McGavick (certainly better funded in a much higher profile race) and some 2,300 MORE than the combined total of the republican candidates for US House in the 1st and 2nd CDs. He has not hurt himself for any future political run and has certainly positioned himself as a valuable asset and spokesperson for the renewable energy community in Snohomish County. I hope he and his supportive wife Heather (along with new son, Jack) will take the necessary time to unwind from this race and will come back to the public arena when they see the right opening and time.

In the mean time, I can't imagine a better way to say "thank you" to Eric than to visit his website (Teegarden4Pud.com) and help him retire any associated campaign debt that may remain.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue