The best of the ’14 Election | IN OUR OPINION

Published 7:00 am Friday, November 14, 2014

Some thoughts about the 2014 general election.

Model campaign: Ah, if all campaigns could be like Kitsap County assessor candidates Paul Andrews and Phil Cook’s. Their campaign was friendly and funny — we heard their campaign appearances referred to as the Paul and Phil Show. They had similar ideas, but different experience and different ideas on how to get there. Sure, one is a registered Democrat and the other is a registered Republican. But they both saw the job as non-partisan, one that is not about politics but about serving the public. And each said they could work with the one who is elected. There was no hostility in this campaign; in fact, Andrews and Cook are now friends. They ran model campaigns that both parties should take note of.

The power of the vote: If you don’t think a single vote matters, we’re sure several candidates will differ with you. In the 26th Legislative District, Michelle Caldier defeated Larry Seaquist by 605 votes for Position 2 in the state House of Representatives. In the 28th District, Christine Kilduff was leading Paul Wagemann by 289 votes for position 2 in the state House. In the 35th District, Dan Griffey defeated Kathy Haigh by 546 votes for Position 1 in the state House.

In Kitsap County, we will have a new prosecuting attorney for the first time in 20 years. Public defender Tina Robinson defeated four-term incumbent Russell Hauge by 871 votes — out of 80,984 votes cast in that race.

From campaigns, ideas emerge: When it comes to elections, nothing bugs us as much as low voter turnout, and races in which there’s an unopposed candidate.

This election was a banner one. Of 32 races on ballots in Kitsap County, all but nine had more than one candidate. For Kitsap County positions, only the candidates for sheriff and treasurer were unopposed.

Even candidates that do not win contribute suggestions and ideas for improving how our tax dollars are spent, how public services can be better administered, how we can improve the quality of life in our communities.

We congratulate all of the candidates in the 2014 election. And we thank you.