All the expectations of Korean Society fell on candidate Shari Song who ran for the state senate election, but she lost the election on November 4th. However, the possibility of being elected as a state representative come to the fore.
Roger Freeman, a current state representative who ran for the election as a Democrat for 30th legislative district deceased right before the election. As his re-election is virtually assured, candidate Song is powerfully mentioned for his succession.
If Freeman’s election is confirmed, the Democrats submit the names of three candidates to King County and Pierce County. Then, the County Councils select one of them as a successor of Freeman.
Song who is defeated Senate election in 30th legislative district is the leading candidate for the successor and Greg Baruso is also expected to be included. He ran for the representative election but lost to the current Republican lawmaker, Linda Kochmar.
Tim Burns, 30th District Democrats Chair watched the process of vote counting with Song on November 4th. Burns states that “the successor of Freeman cannot be said for now because Democratic Party organizes a committee for decision-making.” By suggesting the possibilities of Shari Song as a candidate for the successor, Burns says that he would try to make Shari Song as an elected representative.
Song also states that “it is rash judgment to say that I can be Freeman’s successor for now. Let’s wait and see.”
Meanwhile, the analysis shows that Song who entered politics last year was not enough to defeat the Republican Mark Miloscia who is a native Federal Way and has more than 20 years of political career.
Especially, although Miloscia who served as a former Democratic state representative for 14 years switched over to the Republican Party, his reputation and fierce attack on Song by criticizing her as being a wandering politician work on the voters.
Miloscia, virtually elected as a state senator of 30th legislative district, has a connection with Korea because his son worked in Korea as an English tutor and Miloscia has a Korean daughter-in-law.
Although Song continuously drinks a bitter cup from the last year’s King County to this state senate election, it is being urged that Korean society needs to support Song to become an influential Korean politician.
Susan Lee, Kyungho Ko, Jongse Kwak, Seungju Hong, Soonah Kim, Jong Dameron, Dohyung Shin and others who support Song’s political campaign said “her defeat in the election means a new challenge and a new beginning to Song as well as Seattle Korean community. Let’s work together to support Shari Song as an influential Korean politician.”
by Sang A Park
