I lived in a rural area of northwest Washington most of my life. The political mood of the state for as long as I lived there favored Democrats. The population center is King County (where Seattle is located), which carried that majority. Outside of King County the Republican crowd is spread north and east to the Idaho border. So when elections rolled around King County residents greatly influenced the outcome. In the mid 1970’s voters from areas outside of King County were disgusted by the relatively small Seattle region determing election results for the entire state.

In 1976 Dixie Lee Ray (Democrat) was elected Governor of the State of Washington by defeating Republican John Spellman. (Spellman would be elected the following term). She was a polarizing figure at a time of growing discontent. Villified for her moderately conservative views on taxes and environmental protection, Dixe Lee Ray served only one term.

Prior to the 1976 elections a small group of friends and associates formed an alternative political party. They called themselves the OWL Party - “Out with Logic; In With Lunacy”. The campaign slogan found on many buttons and signs mockingly said “Vote The Rascals Out”. I still have one of the buttons. They actually had candidates appear in the official voters pamphlet for Govenor, Attorney General and Secretary of State among others.

I am reminded of them as I watch the sometimes absurd political process at work right now. Oh how I wish “Bunco” Bob Kelly and Jack “The Ripoff” Lemon were running for office today. A little levity to illustrate our self absorbed human nature.

So there you have it. A very brief trip down memory lane on life in the State of Washington.

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