All we can says is, we’re glad this one is over.
That’s a shame, really, as those of us who inhabit small newsrooms are traditionally excited about election season. The give-and-take of candidates is supposed to be energizing and the debate over issues should be enlightening.
But in November 2010, we’re just happy to see it end.
It was impossible to turn on a television for a bit of mind-numbing entertainment without being bombarded by unrelenting ads, many financed by out-of-state interests. Who could blame a voter who sat down with a mail-in ballot or arrived at the polling place unsure about the prospects of liquor being sold in the local grocery store? After enduring a barrage of ads, how could anyone help but feel both Patty and Dino are just a step above the devil himself. It’s not true in either case, of course, but the election season rhetoric outweighed common sense.
On the local front, voters in the 31st Legislative District were treated to a mudslinging battle for the Senate seat the likes of which have rarely been seen in these parts.
Challenger Matt Richardson had an easy target in the incumbent, Pam Roach, who has built a reputation for anger issues in Olympia. And Roach and her supporters had an even easier target in Richardson, whose personal baggage could seemingly fill a stadium.
A pair of hard-hitting websites took Richardson to task and a controversial mailing reminded everyone – as if it could be forgotten – of the child molestation allegations that have dogged Richardson.
Voters clearly favored Roach, who also has built a solid reputation as one who fights tooth and nail for her district.
The message made clear about 8:01 Election Night is voters are expecting elected officials to sharpen pencils, get out the budget ax or do whatever else is necessary to reign in spending. Legislators face a daunting task when they head to Olympia in January charged with drafting a two-year budget in an era of diminishing financial resources.
The hard work is yet to be done. But, as for the campaigning, we’re just glad it’s over.
