By Glenn Avery, 36th District Republicans

The world in which our politicians operate will be significantly changed on Election Day even if there is no difference in the roster of elected officials representing Ballard and the 36th District. An influx of Republicans will end the Democrats' super-majority in Olympia.

State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles pushed for almost $5 billion in new taxes and fees in the last regular session. She likely will have even less luck lobbying for more spending on public employees this time around.

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson often speaks of the anguish involved in dealing with the budget during the last session. She could help increase spending by only about $6 million. Now real budget cuts, not just reductions in the rate of spending, are necessary.

More centrist Democrats may reach out to a stronger Republican minority in the state House and Senate to find budget solutions.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle could rise to the top in that effort because he has a better grasp of forming coalitions than most of his caucus’ leadership. He would be critical in salvaging anything for the neighborhoods in such a position.

Some may even challenge the leadership of House Speaker and Seattle politician Frank Chopp, who seems to see his role as assuring that the public employee unions have the key to the treasury.

No matter the solutions found and choices made, or avoided, the politicians will have less money to budget and less to send down to neighborhood projects.

Seattle City Hall snubbed the 36th District’s legislators when they asked for a delay in reducing capacity on Nickerson and other arterials slated for the mayor’s road diet. That will not help Seattle’s already strained relations with Olympia or its ability to compete for funds.

City Hall has a more significant impact on the neighborhoods than Olympia but its options to do anything are further limited when it lacks support in the legislature.

Nationally, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 65 percent of Americans would replace the entire U.S. Congress if given the opportunity. There is not an opportunity to contribute to that in Ballard, so Jim McDermott will have another term.

When the next Congress convenes, he will be a member of the minority party and lose his position as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. Whether he remains as that subcommittee’s ranking member will depend on his party’s caucus. Whether the subcommittee remains in existence will depend on the Republican caucus.

Sen. Patty Murray’s retirement would be a more startling change. Dino Rossi will not win the 36th District, where he was once a precinct committee officer, or even King County. But he appears to be on the cusp of winning enough votes in King County so that the smaller counties can carry him to the other Washington.

In a year when the Democrats' leader turns to Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart to salvage his presidency and his party, it just might be possible.

Ballots for in the all-mail 2010 election are due Nov. 2. Click here for more information the election, including ballot drop-box locations.