Murphy and Tabor win court races

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published August 20, 2008

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OLYMPIA – Incumbent Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor and Carol Murphy, a deputy solicitor general with the Washington attorney general, emerged victorious Tuesday in the two contested races for Thurston County Superior Court judge.

Tabor, who has served as judge since he was elected to the bench in 1996, was defeating Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Ed Holm with 68.45 percent of the vote, compared to Holm's 31.33 percent.

Murphy was defeating local attorney Charles Williams with 58.02 percent of the vote, compared to Williams' 41.81 percent.

Tabor, who has said he was "shocked and surprised" that Holm decided to challenge him, said he felt "edified and encouraged" by being re-elected by such a large margin.

During the campaign, Holm claimed Tabor did not treat people with "dignity and respect." Holm could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Election night

Tabor said Tuesday night at his campaign party outside the Governor Hotel: "I think anytime someone criticizes you, you evaluate what's going on. I do stand on my record and I'm proud of the things that I've accomplished."

Tabor said he looks forward to taking over as the presiding drug court judge after Superior Court Judge Richard Strophy retires at the end of the year. He said he hopes to find more efficiencies in the courts in the face of the county's looming budget crisis but added that by and large, he plans on building on the things the court has already accomplished.

The other winner, Murphy, 41, is a deputy solicitor general with the Washington attorney general. She will replace Strophy. Murphy said Tuesday night that she was at her Olympia residence with friends and family as she learned of the results. She said she is excited about the challenges she will face in her new job, and that she is relieved to be finished with the rigors of the campaign.

Her opponent, Williams, could not be reached Tuesday night.

"I focused on doorbelling and on word of mouth -- that people who knew me would spread the word," she said. "I hoped that that would work, and it seems like that has been successful."