35th District

Democrat Fred Finn and GOP candidate Randy Neatherlin emerged from Tuesday's primary as top candidates to replace retiring state Rep. Bill Eickmeyer in the 35th Legislative District.

The two rivals outpolled Republican Herb Baze, the former Mason County commissioner, and Democrat Daryl Daugs, an organizer for a major state employee union from Bremerton. Neatherlin and Finn move on to the Nov. 4 general election.

In the district's other House race, Democratic Rep. Kathy Haigh of Shelton was far ahead of her two challengers -- Republicans Brad Gehring of Bremerton and Marco Brown of Belfair.

Funding for schools and economic development in the semi-rural district were top campaign issues in both races.

"We're very, very pleased with the margin," Finn declared after returns showed him with more than one-third of the vote in a field of four. "I think they want somebody in there … who has the background, the experience and a record of accomplishment in a variety of areas. And I think that's healthy."

Finn is a telecommunications-lawyer-turned-developer-of-apartments in Shelton who has numerous community-group ties that include past service as a Griffin school board member and past ownership of an Olympia paint store.

Eickmeyer beat Finn for the job in 1998, then endorsed him this time.

Neatherlin was runner-up behind Finn with almost one-third of the vote, although Finn outspent him by a $122,457 to $25,186 margin. "I sent the message out to everybody we are tired of paying, and we know we'll be charged again if we don't stand up and do something about it," Neatherlin said, suggesting his message worked. "Out here, we don't have any money left; we're broke."

Haigh had a commanding edge in her race. In early returns, Brown held a narrow lead for second place over Gehring, who wanted to bring economic development to the district.

"We'll just wait until morning and see what happens," Brown said. "Just looking at the figures right now, I'd imagine they are saying they've had enough, and it's time for a change."