On a Nov. 2 general election ballot that includes a U.S. senatorial race and numerous state initiatives, local Highline contests may be overlooked.

But some Highline voters will have a hand in selecting a new King County Council member and state representative in the 34th Legislative district.

Local election results will be posted at www.highlinetimes.com.

State Sen. Joe McDermott is seeking the County Council seat held by Dow Constantine before he was elected County Executive. McDermott currently represents the 34th district in the state senate.

Diana Toledo, a former county enforcement coordinator, animal cruelty investigator and licensing supervisor, opposes him. She characterizes herself as a whistleblower.

In the 34th District two young Democrats are running against each other for the state House of Representatives post held by Sharon Nelson. Nelson is running unopposed for McDermott's Senate seat.
Joe Fitzgibbon is currently the legislative assistant to Nelson and has also served as a King County Council legislative aide. He is also chair of the Burien Planning Commission.

Mike Heavey from West Seattle is currently a King County Council director of outreach and constituents services.
In the race for the other 34th District House seat, Ray Carter, who states he "reluctantly prefers Republican Party," is challenging Rep. Eileen L. Cody, a Democrat.

Cody, a Group Health Cooperative registered nurse for the past 32 years, has served in the state Legislature since 1994.

Carter has worked as a security officer, clerk, customer tech support person, writer/editor and electric vehicle salesman. He also co-chaired '96 Seattle Pride.

Judicial contests often fly under the radar, but a race for Position 2 on the Southwest county District Court is generating some heat.

Assistant Des Moines City Attorney Susan Mahoney is taking on incumbent Judge Judith R. Eiler. Mahoney notes Eiler has been sanctioned twice by the state Judicial Conduct Commission for rude behavior toward defendants.

Eiler calls herself "a tough, no nonsense judge." She has been a District Court judge for 18 years.
Eiler has served as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of the South King County Bar Association while Mahoney has served as a judge pro-tem.

David M. Christie, Vicki M. Seitz, D. Mark Eide and Elizabeth D. Stephenson are running unopposed for Southwest District Court seats.

In the 33rd Legislative District, Republican Jack Michalek is challenging state Sen. Karen Keiser, a Democrat.
Keiser entered the state House in 1996 and moved to the Senate in 2001. She is also a former journalist and communications director.

Michalek worked for 18 years at Continental Airlines before beginning an international air cargo chartering company and cargo sales consulting business.

Incumbent state representatives Tina Orwall and Dave Upthegrove are running unopposed.
In the 11th Legislative District, state Rep. Zack Hudgins, a Democrat, is running against Sarah Sanoy-Wright, who states no party preference.

Hudgins was first elected to the House in 2002. He has also worked at Amazon.com and United Way of King County.

Sanoy-Wright describes herself as an Asian American immigrant who has lived in the United States since 1981.

State Rep. Bob Hasegawa and John Potter are running for the other 11th district House position.
Democrat Hasegawa has been a state representatives for six years and has served on labor union boards.
Republican Potter is currently a Para educator and classroom assistant, working primarily with special needs and at risk youth. He also noted that he has been in Boy Scout leadership positions for 30 years.