Valley Political News

Yesterday night was an exciting night for voters and politicos throughout the Yakima Valley. Three races promised two winners and a defeatist.

The District Court race surprised many as Doug Federspiel and Mike Everett advanced to the general election, leaving Bronson Faul behind with under 15% of the vote. Bronson Faul had picked up the envious endorsements of Senator Jim Honeyford, Representatives David Taylor, Bruce Chandler, and Yakima Mayor Micah Cawley. Bronson Faul is young man and we’ll surely see him on our ballot in the near future.

County Commissioner Rand Elliott was up for re-election and was challenged by a fellow Republican and someone running under the Tea Party label. Kenneth Stevens, the Tea Party candidate famous for his “make sure you don’t get screwed” campaign slogan, has publically declared that he will refuse to take his $81,000 salary if elected. The incumbent Rand Elliott and the energetic Tea Party candidate will face each other in November. We could be up for a surprise!

 The 14^th legislative race has been the most exciting race in the county. The incumbent Norm Johnson(R) was challenged by Michele Strobel(R) and Scott Brumback(D). Johnson and Strobel secured a spot in the November ballot. This promises to be a vicious battle between a moderate and a conservative Republican. It will be interesting to see if the Democrat endorses any of the remaining candidates. The local Democratic Party refused to endorse Scott Brumback as he was too conservative. He was once a Republican PCO. I don’t blame them!