Evan Smith: Gagliardi out to defeat Kagi

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Republican candidate Gary Gagliardi says that he is preparing to unseat incumbent Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi in the November general election.

In primary elections returns, Gagliardi has 36 percent of the vote to 56 percent for Kagi.

Counties will certify results from the August 17 primary Wednesday.

Gagliardi said Monday that Republican candidates ran better than Republicans in previous elections because of “great candidates and a climate where voters are looking for real solutions to our problems in the State rather than more of the same.”

He said that his percentage of primary votes is lower than either David Baker’s or Art Coday’s because he is new to politics, because he was running against a well known opponent and because Kagi is the only Democrat without established opposition.

Gagliardi said he would win “because voters want more jobs and less bureaucratic control of our community from Olympia,” adding that voters will get to know his history and see how his abilities fit our current, critical need to revitalize our economy and restore government accountability."

Finally, he said that restoring prosperity and community control are not partisan issues.

“Only prosperous communities who can control their own development can afford to take care of their people and protect our beautiful environment,” he said.

The Tuesday vote count:

State Representative Legislative Dist.Dist No. 32 - Position 2

Candidate – Party	King Co	Sno Co	Total	%
Ruth Kagi – D	15,028 – 58.31%	2,622 –47.41%	17,650	56.38%
Gary (G) Gagliardi – R	8,845  - 34.32%	2,308 –41.73%	11,153	35.63%
Stan Lippman – D	1,860 --   7.22%	582 –10.52%	2,442	7.80%
Write-in	39 --   0.15%	19 --  0.34%	58	0.19%
Total votes	25,772 –100.00%	5,531 –100.00%	31,303	100.00%
Undervotes	1,841
Total ballots	27,613
Turnout	42.20%