First day of campaign filing reveals diverse challengers in state elections

A Seattle police officer from Puyallup, Keith Swank, is challenging U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert from the right in the new, more Republican 8th Congressional District, even as he’s also challenged from the left by Democrat Karen Porterfield of Issaquah.

A Navy combat veteran who runs an auction and realty company, Daniel “J.R.” Wikane, is running against a fellow Puyallup Republican, Pierce County Councilwoman Joyce McDonald.

And an engineer for a Sumner baking company, Corey Drury, is giving some competition to state Rep. Jim McCune, a Graham Republican running for county council.

Those are some of the new entrants into federal, state and local campaigns who filed on Monday, the first day for the official declarations.

A surprise, long-shot filing came from Steve Hannon, a self described independent and teacher from Yelm, who entered the run for the state’s new 10th Congressional District. The 10th takes in virtually all of Thurston County and runs as far north as University Place and Puyallup.

A major battle in the 10th between Democrat Denny Heck and two Republicans with military backgrounds – Pierce Council Councilmen Dick Muri of Steilacoom and Stan Flemming of University Place, who also made their candidacies official Monday – has been shaping up for months.

Post-Census redistricting created the 10th district and left the 8th district with a new complexion by stretching it across the Cascades to Wenatchee and Chelan – changes that prompted Swank to run. The 44-year-old and the father of four children says he would be a more conservative voice in Congress than Reichert, the former King County sheriff.

Swank was suspended from the Seattle police force for 10 days without pay last year. He was the acting lieutenant in 2010 when a detective made a racially charged threat to a Latino detainee.

Swank maintains he properly handled the incident, which was caught on tape and cited as an example of police abuse. He says he otherwise has glowing evaluations over his more than two decades with the police department.

Redistricting also is influencing races for local offices. It’s what bumped McCune out of his legislative district and prompted him to seek the position being vacated by term-limited Roger Bush, R-Frederickson.

Others who filed Monday:

U.S. Senate:

 • State Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane.

 • U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Edmonds, the incumbent.

 • Chuck Jackson, R-Snohomish, an engineer.

U.S. House, 6th district (includes parts of Tacoma and the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas):

 • State Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.

 • Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor, a technology consultant.

U.S. House, 9th district (stretching from Tacoma to Seattle):

 • James Postma, R-Steilacoom, a retired engineer.

Lieutenant governor:

 • State Rep. Glenn Anderson of Fall City, filing as an independent Republican.

 • Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, D-Shelton, the incumbent.

Secretary of state:

 • Former state Sen. Kathleen Drew, D-Olympia.

 • State Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup.

 • Karen Murray of Quincy, who prefers the Constitution Party, a writer.

 • Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, a Democrat.

 • Sam Wright of Olympia, who prefers the Human Rights Party.

 • Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman, a Republican.

State auditor:

 • James Watkins, R-Redmond, a business consultant.

Attorney general:

 • King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, R-Maple Valley.

Lands commissioner:

 • Commissioner Peter Goldmark, D-Olympia, the incumbent.

Superintendent of Public Instruction, nonpartisan.

 • Superintendent Randy Dorn of Eatonville, the incumbent.

Insurance Commissioner

 • Commissioner Mike Kreidler, D-Lacey, the incumbent.

2nd Legislative District:

 • James Vaughn, R-Orting, for Senate.

 • Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Thurston County, for House Position 1.

 • Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, the incumbent, for House Position 2.

25th Legislative District:

 • Rep. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup, for Senate.

 • Eric Hingsberger, R-Puyallup, a student, for House Position 1.

 • Bill Hilton, D-Puyallup, a retired state trooper, for House Position 2.

27th Legislative District:

 • Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, for Senate.

 • Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, the incumbent, for House Position 1.

28th Legislative District:

 • Steve O’Ban, R-Tacoma, a lawyer, for House Position 1.

 • Paul Wagemann, R-Lakewood, a real estate investor, for House Position 2.

29th Legislative District:

 • Terry Harder, R-Tacoma, a businessman, for House Position 1.

 • David Sawyer, D-Tacoma, a law clerk, for House Position 1.

 • Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma, for House Position 2.

30th Legislative District:

 • Roger Flygare, D-Federal Way, a court reporter, for House Position 1.

 • Jerry Galland, R-Milton, an activist, for House Position 1.

 • Federal Way City Councilwoman Linda Kochmar, a Republican, for House Position 1.

31st Legislative District:

 • Rep. Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw, the incumbent, for House Position 1.

 • Rep. Chris Hurst of Enumclaw, the incumbent, filing as an independent Democrat, for House Position 2.

Pierce County executive:

 • Executive Pat McCarthy, D-Tacoma, the incumbent.

County assessor-treasurer, nonpartisan:

 • County Councilman Tim Farrell of Tacoma.

 • Former Tacoma City Councilman Mike Lonergan.

 • Billie O’Brien of Puyallup, the administrative manager of the assessor-treasurer’s office.

Sheriff, nonpartisan:

 • Sheriff Paul Pastor of University Place, the incumbent.

County Council district 6:

 • Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson, a Republican.

Supreme Court, nonpartisan:

 • Justice Susan Owens of Olympia, the incumbent, for Position 2.

 • Justice Steve Gonzalez of Seattle, the incumbent, for Position 8.

 • King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Hilyer of Seattle for Position 9.

 • Sheryl Gordon McCloud of Seattle for Position 9.

For other judicial races, go to http://bit.ly/L53aOe

Brad Shannon contributed to this report.

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