Auburn Skies
Auburn Reporter editor Mark Klaas discusses all things Auburn, including comings and goings, local issues and community efforts.
Mayoral race update: Challenger Haugen speaks up
September 10th, 2009 at Thu, 10th, 2009 at 1:11 pm by markklaasVirginia Haugen admits she has had enough. Weary of the negativity surrounding the mayoral campaign, Haugen stepped forward, called our office and replied, ‘No, Shelley is not working for me,” said the Auburn City Councilmember. Haugen was referring to her former mayoral primary challenger, Shelley Erickson, whom she ousted in the Aug. 18 election.
Haugen finished a distant second to two-time incumbent Pete Lewis in the primary. Both advanced to the Nov. 3 general election.
Since the primary, Erickson has continued to carry a loud voice, criticizing the mayor and the City over issues. It has been speculated that Erickson has been running interference, doing most of the talking for Haugen.
Haugen, mostly, has been silent – until Thursday. “It has gotten out of hand,” she said of the online rancor between those who support and oppose Lewis. Haugen insists she wants no part of the attack crusade, only to move ahead with a “positive” campaign.
Read more about online here, under our elections tab.
markklaas Mark Klaas, editor of the Auburn Reporter, is an award-winning journalist who has worked in the newspaper industry for more than 25 years. He previously worked as a reporter and editor in Idaho, Oregon and California before moving to the Puget Sound in 1993. He lives in King County with his wife, Sara, and children, Derek and Elizabeth.
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