Filing week. No big deal, some skeptics might scoff. Another round of incumbents eager to re-up, plus wannabes wondering if the filing fee will become a gateway to greatness or a passport to political irrelevance. But for those who pay attention, this week really is a big deal — for a couple of reasons.First, there’s the timing. Erik Smith of the Washington State Wire reports that filing week “is really the start of Washington state’s elections season. Some 344 state and congressional positions are on the ballot this year.”
Second, there’s the distinct political personality that is emerging in 2012 but is rooted in the timeless reality that nothing fires up an election more than open seats (no incumbent running). Such is the excitement that is building at federal, state and local levels.
Federal: Significant change in the state’s Congressional delegation has stoked interest this year. In addition to the 10th member of Congress awarded to Washington this year by redistricting, there are open seats in the 1st (Jay Inslee is running for governor) and 6th (Norm Dicks is retiring) districts. Also on the federal level is the battle for the Senate office held by Maria Cantwell, who is running for re-election.
State: Washingtonians this year will replace four of nine statewide office holders. Gov. Chris Gregoire, Secretary of State Sam Reed and State Auditor Brian Sonntag each is retiring, and Attorney General Rob McKenna is running for governor.
Also, almost two dozen legislators are not running for re-election. About half of them are leaving politics; the rest are seeking other offices. With majority control of the chambers hanging in the balance — particularly in the state Senate — it will be interesting to see who signs up this week for the battle that ends on Nov. 6.
Locally, each of the three legislative districts that serve primarily Clark County has an open seat, one for state senator in the 49th Legislative District, with an open seat for state representative in each of the 17th and 18th districts (the latter because of redistricting).
Our message is one of encouragement: Seldom has there been a more exciting political season shaping up in Washington and in Clark County. Your decision to follow the action closely and participate will be richly rewarded. There also are highly partisan battles over social issues shaping up as Washingtonians debate the worth or dangers of allowing gay marriage, plus the value or threats of legalizing and taxing recreational use of marijuana.
Reed, the retiring secretary of state, said in a Tuesday statement that voters he’s talked to recently “are very enthused about this election, and you get the sense that it is a generational or ‘change’ election coming up. When you add the presidential election and potentially some very volatile ballot measures, we may see record voter registrations and record turnout.”
You won’t want to be left out of that excitement. So, yes, filing week, which ends Friday, really is a very big deal.
