GOP candidates sweep Legislature

COEUR d'ALENE - Republicans held on to sweep the legislative races.

Early results election night indicated all the incumbent representatives were leading, and by Wednesday morning the victories were confirmed.

Reps. Phil Hart, Marge Chadderdon, Bob Nonini, John Goedde and Dick Harwood all retained their seats. The one seat up for election, District 4 Position B previously held by a Democrat, went to Republican Kathy Sims with 58 percent of the vote.

"Waking up this morning there was definitely that deep, dark lull in your stomach," said Democrat Paula Marano, who lost to Sims for the seat previously held by George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene. "It's a disappointment. You feel sad."

Sims, meanwhile, said she is excited to hit the ground running. She said after her victory that urban renewal and voting regulations will be atop her legislative priority list.

"We know we have a lot of work to do," she said. "I know it's going to be hard."

Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, cruised with nearly 71 percent of the vote for the Senate's District 4 seat, besting Independent Jeremy Boggess and Raymond Writz, a Constitution Party member from Coeur d'Alene. Incumbent Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, earned 73 percent of the vote over Democrat David Larsen in the District 5 Representative Seat A race.

Harwood, the Republican incumbent from St. Maries, won over Democrat challenger Jon Ruggles with 70 percent for District 2 Representative Seat B. Hart took 75 percent of the votes over write-in candidate Howard Griffiths for the District 3 Position B seat.

Chadderdon won her fourth term serving Legislative District 4 position A. She earned the spot with 62 percent of the vote over Democrat Mike Bullard who finished with 38 percent.

"We've got our work cut out for us," Chadderdon said. "The people have spoke to live within our means. They have the same problems the state is going to have. Less money, so let's do the best we can with the funds we have."

Incumbent Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, and Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, won re-election without facing an opponent. Republicans Steve Vick, Senate District 3, and Vito Barbieri, District 3 Representative Position A, also didn't face competition.