UPDATED — Wiggins cuts into Sanders’ lead cut in state Supreme Court race

  • By GENE JOHNSON The Associated Press
  • Friday, November 5, 2010 12:01am
  • News

By GENE JOHNSON

The Associated Press

SEATTLE — Bainbridge Island attorney Charlie Wiggins continued Friday to cut into the slim lead held by Justice Richard Sanders as Sanders tries to retain his seat on the state Supreme Court.

In updated vote totals Friday at 5:22 p.m., Sanders led 50.34 percent (795,046 votes) to 49.66 percent (784,241 votes) for Wiggins.

Friday’s new total reflected another slight improvement for Wiggins, who started Thursday trailing by 2 percentage points.

Hundreds of thousands of ballots from Tuesday’s election remain to be counted.

A significant portion are in populous King County, where Wiggins is winning handily — 57.76 percent to 42.24 percent as of 4:22 p.m. Friday.

Wiggins was also leading in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

On Thursday, both candidates expressed optimism about the results, with Sanders saying he’s glad to be in the lead, and Wiggins saying the trend in King County bodes well for him.

“It’s a close race,” Sanders said. “I’m happy that it appears that I’m winning.”

Sanders came under fire late in the campaign for insisting at a court meeting that racial bias plays no significant role in the criminal justice system.

He said certain minority groups are “disproportionally represented in prison because they have a crime problem.”

A front-page story on the remarks appeared in The Seattle Times after ballots were mailed to voters and was followed by the newspaper’s decision to rescind its endorsement of him.

Blacks make up 4 percent of the state’s population and nearly 20 percent of its prisoners, and studies around the country have linked such disproportionate numbers to drug enforcement policies, poverty and racial biases throughout society.

Sanders said he stood by his remarks, that the uproar over his comments amounted to a personal attack and that he’s proud of his record of upholding the state constitution and protecting individual liberties.

He and his supporters pointed out he often sides with defendants in criminal cases that reach the high court.

Wiggins said Sanders’ comments fit into a pattern of ill-considered remarks — including the time Sanders shouted “Tyrant!” at then-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey during a black-tie dinner — that raise questions about his judgment.

More in News

Olympic Medical Center to explore outside partnership

Process to explore long-term viability

After learning about each other through a genealogy service 15 years ago and speaking on the phone for years, Steven Hanson of Montevideo, Minn., and Sue Harrison of Sequim met for the first time a few weeks ago. The siblings were placed for adoption by their biological mother about 10 years apart. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Adopted as babies, siblings meet decades later

Sequim woman started search for biological family 15 years ago

Derek Kilmer.
Kilmer looking to next chapter

Politician stepping down after 20 years

Jefferson County PUD General Manager Kevin Streett plans to retire next summer. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Jefferson County PUD general manager to retire

Kevin Streett plan to serve until June 2025

Port Angeles, waterfront district agree to three-year deal

Funds from parking, quarterly billing to help with public events

From left to right: Special Olympics Washington Athlete, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, East Wenatchee Police Officer Brandon Johnson, Port Angeles Deputy Chief Jason Viada, Undersheriff Lorraine Shore, Sheriff Brian King, Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy and Fife Police Officer Patrick Gilbert. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook)
Clallam County undersheriff named Torch Run Sheriff of the Year

Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore has been selected as… Continue reading

Oliver Pochert, left, and daughter Leina, 9, listen as Americorp volunteer and docent Hillary Sanders talks about the urchins, crabs and sea stars living in the touch tank in front of her at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Pochert, who lives in Sequim, drove to Port Townsend on Sunday to visit the aquarium because the aquarium is closing its location this month after 42 years of operation. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Aquarium closing

Oliver Pochert, left, and daughter Leina, 9, listen as Americorp volunteer and… Continue reading

Tree sale is approved for auction

Appeals filed for two Elwha watershed parcels

Port Townsend City Council to draw down funds in 2025 budget

City has ‘healthy fund reserve balance,’ finance director says

Man flown to hospital after crash investigated for DUI

A 41-year-old man was flown to Olympic Medical Center in… Continue reading

Signal controller project to impact traffic

Work crews will continue with the city of Port… Continue reading