Kochmar, Freeman, Miloscia take early leads in 30th District election results | Slideshow

Published 9:49 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Initial results for the general election in Pierce and King counties on Tuesday night show that two incumbents — Rep. Linda Kochmar and the late Rep. Roger Freeman — and Mark Miloscia take early leads in their respective races.

Votes are still being counted for Federal Way’s 30th Legislative District races. Results will be certified by Dec. 4.

So far, Miloscia is taking the lead for State Senate with 9,800 votes in King County and 569 votes in Pierce County. Challenger Song has 7,599 votes in King County and 394 votes in Pierce County.

Kochmar is ahead in the race for Position 1 with 9,765 votes in King County and 566 votes in Pierce County. Baruso has 7,232 votes in King County and

377 votes in Pierce County. Freeman is ahead for Position 2 in King County with 9,042 votes, while Dovey has 7,946 votes. Dovey and Freeman are tied in Pierce county, with both receiving 475 votes.

Freeman died last Wednesday morning after a long battle with colon cancer.

Freeman’s lead leaves a decision for filling the vacant House seat to the King and Pierce County Councils, which must jointly appoint a Democrat to replace Freeman for one year. Freeman’s replacement will be chosen from three nominees put forward by Democratic Party officials in the 30th District. A special election would be set next year for voters to decide on a candidate to fill out the final year of the two-year House term.

During an election party at the Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club in Federal Way on Tuesday night, Republican supporters cheered as the initial results were displayed on a screen.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege working for you and it’s going to be an honor and a privilege to continue working for you,” Kochmar said to the audience, noting she hopes to work in the Legislature to bring jobs back to the community.

She also brought a sense of humor to the evening.

“Jack and Mark took all the hits for me this year so I didn’t have to,” she laughed.

Dovey told his supporters that though the initial numbers look good for Freeman, “we’ll just keep plugging along” and he hopes the trend will move in his favor.

Miloscia took time to thank Sen. Tracey Eide, who is retiring after 16 years in the Legislature.

“Senator Tracey Eide has served us nobly and ably for 16 years,” he said, thanking his supporters and his wife for standing behind him.

He also noted that change is happening across the nation, wherein “people are demanding change, people are demanding balance. We’re going to go down there and make that happen.”

At Poverty Bay Coffee, Democrats – including Eide – gathered for the election results, as Song thanked her supporters and posed for pictures with them.

“Today I was so happy because I couldn’t be prouder of this grassroots campaign,” Song told the Mirror. “The amount of supporters and individuals who came out to support me was phenomenal.”

She said she hopes as more votes are tallied that the percentages will move in her favor.

“At the end of the day, we did our best,” she said.

Baruso was not at the Democratic event.

Several Democratic supporters noted Freeman’s absence, including 30th District Democrats Chair Tim Burns.

“This is a bittersweet night,” Burns told the Mirror. “We should have had Roger here.”

The Mirror will update these results tonight.

To learn more, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.

Editor Carrie Rodriguez contributed to this report.