Swannack endorses Hailey

Lamont Republican Art Swannack has endorsed Pat Hailey of Mesa for 9th district state representative in the general election. Swannack reported his endorsement in a letter to the Gazette Monday.

Swannack in his letter said both general election finalists, Republicans Haley and Susan Fagan of Pullman, had asked him for an endorsement. He said after much consideration he decided to back Hailey because she had a good combination of skills, including serving schools, operating a farm and knowledge of how Olympia works.

Swannack actually out-polled Hailey in Whitman County, 1,098 to 1,035. Fagan finished first with 2,502 votes in the county.

Swannack netted over 12 percent of the five-way race in the 9th district primary with 2,737 votes.

Fagan led the district returns with 6,509, and Hailey qualified for the general election under the state’s top two format with 5,722. Ritzville Democrat Glenn Stockwell placed third in the district with 5,401 ballots.