WA-2: Auditor challenges Larsen

[goobergunch]

By Jim Larsen

Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair is running for office, but don’t expect her name on this fall’s ballot. She has her sights set on November 2004 when she will take on U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, the Second District congressman from Arlington.

Sinclair, a Republican, announced her intentions on Friday. She hopes her early announcement will deter others in her party from running. “Hopefully we can go forward with only one candidate,” she said.

Larsen, a Democrat, was elected to his second two-year term in 2002 when he defeated Republican challenger Norma Smith of Clinton. Sinclair said Larsen received 50.7 percent of the vote, which to her eyes makes him vulnerable.

“Mr. Larsen is under pressure to take views not supported in the Second District,” she said, taking issue with his vote against giving President Bush authority to go to war with Iraq. “I would have voted for that,” Sinclair said, alluding to various terrorist attacks against the U.S. “At some point you have to say ‘enough’.”

more...http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=84&cat=23&id=101097&more

Washington DUers, should we be concerned? It's a marginal district and Larsen hasn't exactly won by overwhelming margins.