46th Legislative District candidate Siegfriedt says there’s room to attract new support to catch Farrell in general election for open seat

By Evan Smith

Sarajane Siegfriedt, who trails fellow Democrat Jessyn Farrell in primary election results, says that there’s “plenty of room to attract new support” for the general election.

Siegfriedt and Farrell will run off in November for the position that retiring Democratic State Rep. Phyllis Kenney now holds in the 46th District, which includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and northeast Seattle.

She notes that, although voter turnout in the 46th District was the highest in the County, it will probably double in November.

With primary election results to be certified Tuesday, Farrell holds 30 percent of the primary votes to Siegfriedt’s 22 percent, Republican Scott Hodges’ 18 percent, Democrat Shelly Crocker’s 16 percent, Democrat Dusty Hoerler’s 12 percent and independent Stan Lippmann’s 2 percent.

Siegfriedt said last week that she plans to “redouble my doorbelling efforts and contact voters who may have voted for my two Democratic opponents who didn't move on, or who may not have voted at all.”

Both Crocker and Hoerler raised and spent more money than either Farrell or Siegfriedt, but Siegfriedt said, 

“The reason I did better than my better-funded opponents is that I have the most Olympia experience and the endorsements of the 46th District Democrats and of Rep. Phyllis Kenney and Sen. Ken Jacobsen, both of whom have huge support in the 46th; I'm also endorsed by Sen Maralyn Chase and Rep. Ruth Kagi who have represented Lake Forest Park and Kenmore for many years. Voters know what to expect from them and, therefore, from me.

“My platform is the same as the 46th District Democrats, since I co-chaired the Platform Committee.

“Support at the doors from the Democratic Precinct Committee Officers also made a big difference. I have been on the board of the 46th District Democrats since 2004, and they know me.

“I am also on record in support of the 37-point legislative agenda of the King County Democrats, as their Legislative Action Chair.”

She added that “the Republican vote represents a high-water point for the GOP in the new 46th, at about 18 to 20% of the vote.

“There's plenty of room to attract new support among the other 80 percent who identify as Democrats or who lean Democratic.”