Jerry Cornfield used some newsprint in yesterday's Everett Herald to wish for a John Koster candidacy against sitting Democratic County Executive Aaron Reardon. An interesting thought. I know and respect both of them, and the race would have some fireworks.
The problem is, as Cornfield's own column suggests, the motive for such wishes is more for political sport (for reporters like Cornfield to then cover), than for serious hope of electoral victory. As Cornfield himself rightly notes, Koster would face and up hill climb and a half should he choose to get into the race at this late juncture after Rick Bart's recent departure.
Sure, Republicans would like to offer a candidate, but Snohomish County is roughly the size of a Congressional District. A serious race for County Executive is no small undertaking, and no small burden to ask someone (and their family) to bear for long odds at success.
The real trick is Reardon is fiscally conservative, pro-death penalty, and on good terms with the business and development community. Those are not exactly characteristics that make the job of a Republican unseating him very easy. They probably, in fact, make Reardon more vulnerable to a run at him from the left. It's not likely to happen, but would be much more entertaining.
P.S. Note to Cornfield: Reardon is really quite skilled in the art of profanity when he's so inclined. He just needs to make sure he hangs up on the phone properly when done speaking to reporters so they don't hear it.
Posted by Eric Earling at March 26, 2007 10:22 PM | Email ThisDoesn't Reardon support the unions? I thought he was tight with your types. If he is not a REAL Democrat, why do the enviros help fund his campaign?
You got some explaining to do, Ivan.
On the article, I thought Cornfield was sickening. His comment was totally self-serving. If anything, his article and his endorsement for Koster to run should be enough reason for Koster not to run.
These newspaper types are not the friends of Republicans.
Posted by: swatter on March 27, 2007 08:19 AMNot a real dem my ass! Fiscally conservative? There are surely worse...but I wouldn't call him fiscally conservative....more like left of center.
He's only on the good side of the business community because he's trying to ramrod Paine Field into a commercial airport against the agreement that the county made with the communities and without the community support outside of the business community.
Posted by: drw on March 27, 2007 03:40 PMYeah, Koster would be OK, but beating this guy will take lib. He is a young darling of darn near everyone, save for Rick "the dick" Bart.
I was sorry to see Rick drop out. I saved some really flamin' emails I got from him over the last few years.
Believe me, if the cops in Snoho are of his ilk, don't make any furtive moves if you get stopped.
The Geez
Posted by: The Geezer on March 27, 2007 07:55 PMYeah, Koster would be OK, but beating this guy will take lib. He is a young darling of darn near everyone, save for Rick "the dick" Bart.
I was sorry to see Rick drop out. I saved some really flamin' emails I got from him over the last few years. Woulda made great press.
Believe me, if the cops in Snoho are of his ilk, don't make any furtive moves if you get stopped.
The Geez
Posted by: The Geezer on March 27, 2007 07:56 PMCornfield's has a column on Sunday's, separate from his news coverage. I believe the article I linked to was the column...though I don't read the hard copy version to verify.
Posted by: Eric Earling on March 27, 2007 08:07 PM