Democrats John Burbank and Reuven Carlyle are battling each to take over Rep. Helen Sommers' seat in the 36th Legislative District, and after the results of the Aug. 19 primary showed a difference of less than 1 percent between the candidates, the race is shaping up to be one of the closest in the state.

On election night the candidates took time away from their parties and well-wishers to discuss why they are running and what keeps them motivated during such a close, hard-fought race.

As the results rolled in Carlyle was playing host to a gathering of friends and family at his Queen Anne home near Kerry Park. He said he wanted to save the big party for the general election in November and use this opportunity to show his gratitude to the people who have helped him through this process.

"More than anything, I'm just grateful to my friends and family," Carlyle said. "A lot of people stepped up and I'm humbled by that."

Carlyle said he is running for the Washington Legislature because he is convinced there is a passion this year for a new generation of public policy.

"This battle is not between the left and right," he said. "It's between institutional, old-guard bureaucracy and action."

Carlyle said he is enjoying the closeness of his race and people who know him said that seems to be a part of his personality.

Elizabeth Campbell, a volunteer for Carlyle after she heard him speak at a caucus earlier this year, said he appears to have a genuine passion for public discourse and enjoys debating issues.

Carlyle said the race has taken up a lot of his time and has been a challenge for his family life, especially because he has four young children. But, he said having those children helping him on the campaign everyday has been fun.

Despite the drain a close political race takes on a candidate, Carlyle said he stays motivated because he sees himself as running against the institution and by a firm belief in a citizen legislature, not a legislature of professional politicians.

"If the state loses that citizen aspect, then it loses healthy politics," he said.

Carlyle has never been elected to political office but was appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire to the State Community and Technical College Board.

Meanwhile, Burbank was holding his own primary night party at a photo studio on Market Street where supporters sat around tables talking and watching the percentages on a television screen in the corner.

Burbank said he decided to run for the Legislature because there are many important problems facing the state right now, such as the availability of health care and the effectiveness of mass transportation, and their has been a failure by the government to find solutions to those problems so far.

"The Legislature is a place to build solutions to those problems," Burbank said. "And, I'd like to be a part of those solutions."

Burbank's daughter Megan said she believes this race is something her father has been working toward for a long time, either consciously or unconsciously, by being politically active for as long as she can remember.

Burbank has experience working politically outside the Legislature, such as forming the Economic Opportunity Institute and being the political director of the State Labor Council, but he said he feels he could be more effective working within the Legislature at this point.

He said he is not nervous about the close race and stays motivated by listening to the issues people in the district are bringing up and desiring to solve the problems they face.

Because of the state's new top two primary system, both Burbank and Carlyle will move on to face each other in the general election. Republican Leslie Bloss was eliminated in the primary.

Michael Harthorne may be reached at 783.1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com