Republican state Rep. Barbara Bailey is fending off the challenge from Democrat Patricia Terry for Position 2 seat in the 10th Legislative District.
As of late Tuesday with 84 of 154 precincts reporting, Bailey has 20,021 votes to Terry’s 17,212.
The 10th district includes Camano and Whidbey islands, Stanwood, and the surrounding areas north to Burlington and south toward Marysville.
Even though she trails 54 to 46 percent, Terry isn’t throwing in the towel.
Reached at Democratic Party headquarters in Oak Harbor, Terry said she’s been advised to wait before making a concession speech.
“Usually, ballots from North Whidbey are counted first and there is a Republican trend,” she said. “But I’m from Camano Island which has a history of supporting their own. That’s what they tell me.”
Terry, 54, a registered nurse of more than 30 years from Camano Island, said her experience in health care and management has been a real asset.
She’s gotten support from local county Democratic parties and the House of Representatives Democratic campaign committee.
“The fact that the Democratic party has endorsed me has been a huge help,” she said. “Their good wishes and financial support has made all the difference.”
“The economy and healthcare are the two concerns I hear about most on the campaign trail,” she said. “Either not having insurance or being underinsured plus overall job insecurity are things I hear about every day.”
For her part, Bailey, 64, from Oak Harbor, said she’s excited with the results and ready to get back to work.
“It looks to be favorable but now the real challenge is to deal with the state’s projected $3.2 billion budget deficit,” she said.
“And the other thing of importance are policy issues on spending at the state level.”
This was Bailey’s fourth election campaign to represent Position 2 in the 10th Legislative District and she said her concerns about government spending are reaching a receptive audience.
One of her pet peeves is unfunded mandates. Bailey said there should be a clear funding mechanism in place for any state or federally mandated program.
“As I said, now the election is over, we have work to do,” she added.
