If Burien primary voters were given the chance to vote on White Center annexation, it wouldn’t stand a chance.
That seems to be the message from results of the August primary election.
Outspoken annexation critic Bob Edgar, who attempted to withdraw from the race and did not campaign, received 44.67 percent of the vote for Burien City Council Position 4, as reported by King County Elections Tuesday night.
Edgar outpolled two-term incumbent Gordon Shaw, who received 38.63 percent. Newcomer Joey Martinez lagged behind with 15.69 percent. Shaw has said he would support annexation if it is financially viable.
Edgar and Shaw will move on to the November general election.
In the other Burien council primary race, incumbent Lucy Krakowiak, the only council member to vote against Boulevard Park annexation, garnered almost 50 percent of the votes against two strong challengers.
Krakowiak received 47.98 percent while planning commissioner Greg Duff got 26.91 percent and parks board member Ed Dacy received 24.47 percent.
Krakowiak and Duff will face each other in the general election.
If council members decide to pursue annexation of White Center and the remaining portion of North Highline, Burien voters will not have a say.
Residents of the area to be annexed are the only ones eligible to vote on possible annexation.
Shaw has said the lawmakers probably won’t make an annexation decision until late next month or October. Unless council members slow down the process, the decision will be made before any new lawmakers are seated in January.
In SeaTac, Mayor Terry Anderson registered a strong primary showing with 56.33 percent of the vote. She will be opposed in the November election by Sandra Cook-Bensley, who voiced support for local small businesses. Cook-Bensley garnered 23.08 percent.
Anderson, who was selected by her council colleagues to serve as mayor, has said she favors continuing SeaTac’s city manager form of government. Cook-Bensley supports a proposition on the November ballot that calls for a citywide vote for a mayor who would be the chief executive of the city.
Othman Heibe was eliminated from the general election race with 19.23 percent of the votes.
Heibe, a University of Washington student and taxi driver, became a U.S citizen two years ago. He drew notice as one of the few immigrant and Muslim candidates to enter local political races.
Tukwila voters overwhelmingly approved formation of a special park district governed by city council members to take over operation of the Tukwila Pool. The measure received a 61.86 percent yes vote.
Louise Strander, with 55.99 percent of the vote, will face Kate Kruller, who garnered 35.04 percent, in November for Tukwila City Council, Position 6. Ruth Sanoy received 8.30 percent of the votes.
Incumbent Joe McDermott swamped Diana Toledo in the primary race for council position 8 with 67.07 percent of the vote to Toledo’s 27.23 percent. They will compete once again in the November election.
Burien resident Goodspaceguy received 5.16 percent.