SNOHOMISH COUNTY is undoubtedly the hot spot in the November 6 Legislative elections.

Two Legislative House Districts — 21st and 38th — are holding special elections. In both cases, appointees were temporarily assigned the seats to fill vacancies.

"The outcome of these elections will determine whether we have to suffer through another tied Legislature similar to the marathon session we had to deal with earlier this year," says Pat Thompson, Council 2’s Legislation/Political Action Director.

Details:

Brian Sullivan

• In the 21st District — seen as the pivotal race of the two — Council 2’s endorsed candidate Brian Sullivan, a Democrat, is running against Rep. Joe Marine, who was appointed to fill a vacancy.
  
  Marine is a conservative Republican. Sullivan won a hard-fought primary campaign. He now appears to be in good shape to defeat Marine.
  
  

  Jean Berkey

• In the other race Rep. Jean Berkey, a Democrat, is fighting to retain the seat to which she was appointed when long-time Legislative member Pat Scott passed away. She will run against Republican Erv Hagland.
  
  Both Sullivan and Berkey have solid pro-labor-voting records.
  
  In addition, in the Snohomish County Council three of the five seats are up for election. The result will determine, therefore, which party controls the council.
  
  

  Mike Ashley

  Council 2 has more than 2,000 members who work or live in Snohomish County, which is the second largest concentration of the union’s membership in the state.
  
  
• Mike Ashley is running against former legislator and congressional candidate John Koster, who compiled a near-zero labor-voting record during his tenure in the State Legislature. Koster also recently helped in efforts to carve a new county out of Snohomish County.
  
  

  Dave Gossett

  Council 2 is supporting Ashley, who has supported our membership in their contract negotiations during his short term in office.
  
  
• In the second seat, Dave Gossett is running against Rep. Dave Schmidt. Gossett, who is Mayor of Mountlake Terrace and Council 2’s endorsed candidate, currently works for the county and is not only supportive of our issues but is highly knowledgeable on them.
  
  

  Dave Somers

• In the third contested seat incumbent Dave Somers, current chair of the council, is running against Jeff Sax. Somers has consistently been there for Council 2, Thompson says.