Smith on Politics: Three Incumbents, One Challenger in Lake Forest Park’s New Legislative District

Three incumbents and one challenger have registered their intent to run in Lake Forest Park’s new legislative district.

The three 46th Legislative District incumbents all say that they intend to be on the ballot for the coming election.

Redistricting put Lake Forest Park and Kenmore into what traditionally has been at northeast Seattle district.

Incumbent Democratic State Sen. David Frockt and Democratic Reps, Phyllis Gutierrez-Kenney and Gerry Pollet have registered as candidates with the State Public Disclosure Commission as has Democratic challenger Sylvester Cann. Registration with the PDC allows a candidate to raise and spend money for the August primary and November general election, Candidates file for ballot positions May 14-18.

Frockt will run for the last two years of the four-year term that he holds by appointment. He won his first election to the State House of Representatives in 2010 and won appointment to the Senate in 2011 to replace the late Sen. Scott White. He currently serves on the Senate committees on transportation, on health and long-term care, and on higher education and workforce development.

Gutierrez-Kenney has been in the House of Representatives since 1991. She is chairwoman of the House committee on community development and housing, and a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Labor and Workforce Development Committee.

Pollet will run for his first full two-year term in the position he has held by appointment since he replaced Frockt in 2011. He had lost a House race to White in 2008 by a 71 percent to 28 percent margin. He is a member of the House Environment Committee, the Higher Education Committee and the Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee.

Cann, who has registered as a candidate for State representative said Sunday that he would run for the position that Pollet now holds. Cann was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to replace Frockt in the House after Frockt won appointment to the Senate. Cann is a Democratic precinct committee officer in Seattle and a former legislative aide to White.

No Republicans ran in the District in 2010. Both White and Frockt won without opposition. Gutierrez-Kenney defeated an independent candidate by an 84 percent to 16 percent margin.

No challengers yet for 32nd District Democratic incumbents

Incumbent 32nd District State Reps. Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu are the only candidates in the District to register with the PDC so far. Kagi has registered her intent to seek an eighth two-year term. Ryu has registered her intent to seek a second term.

State Sen. Maralyn Chase is in the middle of a four-year term that expires after the 2014 election.

The new 32nd District includes Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Lynnwood, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County,

 About this column: Journalist and Shoreline resident Evan Smith has covered local issues for nearly two decades. His politics column appears on Patch at least weekly.