Ranker wins Dem nomination in 40th LD Senate race

Kevin RankerSan Juan Island Democrat Kevin Ranker won the 40th Legislative District's Democratic nomination Sunday, prevailing over field of five Democrats, the deepest in the state for any race, vying for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Harriet Spanel.

Ranker won on the first round of balloting. He received 260 weighted Precinct Committee Officer votes, 54 percent of the total. Hue Beatty (D-Bellingham) came in second with 94 votes (20 percent) followed by Ken Henderson (D-Bellingham) with 78 (16 percent) and Stephanie Kountouros (D-Bellingham) with 48 (10 percent). Paul Gonzales (D- Mount Vernon) did not receive any PCO votes.

"This is a great position to be in, but there is much more work ahead to sustain this momentum," Ranker said in a press release announcing his nomination.

After hearing all five candidates speak at the meeting, 40th District Vice Chair Roni Beall was surprised to see the nomination locked up on the first ballot. She thought they were all so appealing that it would require a few takes for any candidate to obtain the 50 percent vote required to be declared the nominee.

"I was prepared for four sets of ballots," she said. "I was prepared for this thing to go on and on."

While Ranker will be called the official nominee, the district will hold a series of endorsement meetings this June where they will give the top two candidates the district's official endorsement in addition to the nomination.

"We're trying to be equally supportive of all candidates to give them an equal playing field," Beall said. "It would make sense that Kevin woulod be one of those two, but he's got to earn it."