Re-elected Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi says she’s happy with election results

By Evan Smith

Democratic 32nd District State Rep. Ruth Kagi, who has won an eighth two-year term in the Legislature, says that she is happy with election results, not only with her own victory but with Jay Inslee’s election as governor and the approval of the same-sex marriage referendum.

She said Tuesday that voter approval of marriage equality was vindication of the Legislature’s action.

Kagi won her eighth two-year term, this one in a far different district than the one she has represented for 14 years.

The district that long has included Shoreline, Woodway, south Edmonds and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, now includes Lynnwood, part of Mountlake Terrace and part of northwest Seattle, while redistricting took Lake Forest Park out of the district, along with Kenmore, part of Kirkland and unincorporated areas between Kenmore and Kirkland.

She said that she enjoyed campaigning in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace and that most of the odd-shaped district is tied together by Interstate 5 and related transportation issues,

Kagi defeated Republican challenger Robert Reedy of Mountlake Terrace with a lead through Wednesday of 73 percent to 27 percent. Kagi leads 78-22 percent in King County and 66-33 percent in the Snohomish County part of the district. In the other 32nd District contest, incumbent Democratic Rep. Cindy Ryu holds a 72-28 lead over Republican Randy Hayden of Edmonds. Ryu led 76-23 in King County and 66-33 in Snohomish County.

Kagi said that she also was pleased with the election of Jessyn Farrell to an open seat in the 46th Legislative District, which now includes Lake Forest Park and Kenmore in addition to northeast Seattle. She said that Farrell would add the perspective of a young mother of three children.

Farrell has defeated fellow Democrat Sarajane Siegfriedt 64 percent to 36 percent for the position that retiring Democratic State Rep. Phyllis Kenny now holds. Also in the 46th District, appointed incumbent Democratic Rep. Gerry Pollet defeated Democratic challenger Sylvester Cann with a lead of 65 percent to 34 percent, and incumbent Democratic State Sen. David Frockt was unopposed for the last two years of the four-year term left vacant by the death of the late Scott White.

Kagi said that she was disappointed by the votes for initiatives requiring a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature to increase taxes and to establish charter schools, by the defeat of the constitutional amendment to allow state research universities to invest some non-state money in stocks and by rejection of two State advisory votes.

She said that the advisory votes meant nothing because the Legislature wasn’t going to reverse its action to eliminate tax preferences that the Legislature had eliminated by two-thirds votes of both houses,

She said that she hoped that Washington would emulate qualities of successful charter schools from around the country rather than those of unsuccessful charter schools.

Kagi added that the Legislature now must find a way to comply with a Court order to provide adequate support for public schools. She said that she expects the Legislature to present some sort of tax package to voters.