Exactly a week since the November 3 election and I’m now just getting around to discussing the state issues of importance but that’s still the occupational hazard of holding down two jobs. Things are moving forward with the process of hiring a new Director of State Relations and I hope to have some information to share in the next week or so.
By now you know the results of the statewide measures. Initiative 1033 which would have imposed a cap on state and local property tax revenues was defeated, and Referendum 71, which has been termed the “everything but marriage” measure related to domestic partnerships was passed.
There were, however, three special elections for state representatives which were the result of the recent death of two members and the resignation of another. First, in the 16th district, appointed incumbent Laura Grant-Herriott (D) was defeated by Terry Nealey (R) to fill out the term of Rep. Bill Grant (D) who died last winter. Grant-Herriott was the daughter of the late House Democratic Caucus Chair. Second, in the 9th district, Republican Susan Fagen defeated Pat Hailey (R) for the seat previously held by Rep. Steve Hailey who also passed away last year. Former Representative Don Cox (R) held the seat during the 2009 session but decided not to run this November to fill the unexpired term. Finally, in the 15th district, Representative David Taylor (R) defeated Democratic challenger John Gotts in the race to fill the unexpired term of former Representative Dan Newhouse who was appointed director of the state Department of Agriculture last winter.
The net result of the three state House races is that the Democratic majority dropped by one seat from 62-36 to 61-37.