MATT DRISCOLL: CATCHING UP WITH AUDITOR PAT >>>

In this week’s issue of the Weekly Volcano I ran a story about current Pierce County Auditor Pat McCarthy’s campaign for County Executive â€" specifically a recent flap she had with the 2nd Legislative District Democrats. If you didn’t catch the story, you can find it here. If you’d prefer a brief synopsis, here’s the gist: McCarthy has been claiming the endorsement of 2nd LD Dems since at least April. In January, the 2nd LD Dems voted to recommend democrats choose McCarthy’s democratic opponent Calvin Goings with their first choice on this fall’s Ranked Choice ballots - and McCarthy second. In the eyes and interpretation of the McCarthy campaign, the resolution constituted an endorsement. In the eyes of 2nd LD Dems, it really didn’t. When McCarthy was recently endorsed by the Master Builders Association of Pierce County (a group the 2nd LD Dems view as non eco friendly and unprogressive) they reached a breaking point. On Tuesday, June 17 they issued a press release fully endorsing Mr. Goings â€" in an attempt to erase ambiguities that have allowed the McCarthy campaign to claim otherwise, and also withdrawing any support they may have shown McCarthy in the past.

Just call the situation politics. It’s silly. It doesn’t matter much. But this is the way we’ve chosen to do things.

McCarthy recently got a hold of me to clarify her position (a viewpoint I’d hoped to have for the original piece, but since McCarthy’s all busy auditing and whatnot it proved impossible.)  Most importantly, with or without the official endorsement of the 2nd LD Dems, McCarthy feels fine about her chances in the district which includes Roy, Rainer, Graham and Orting. She pointed out that the 20 person voting group which decided to issue Tuesday’s press release probably didn’t speak for the entire district.

“I’ve been a Democrat in good standing for over thirty years,” says McCarthy. “The resolution (originally passed by the 2nd LD Dems in January) said ‘endorsement.’ From my perspective, we believed it was an endorsement. Clearly, my democratic opponent did as well. That was my perspective.”

As for her recent endorsement by the Master Builders Association of Pierce County, McCarthy was “as surprised as anyone” by it, and also happy to have it. She pointed out that every candidate for Pierce County Executive interviewed with the MBA looking for the endorsement.

“I’m very proud of that endorsement. I think the next Executive will need to take a reasonable approach to development and growth,” says McCarthy. “I believe in bringing everyone to the table. If we pigeonhole and profile, and make enemies it doesn’t help. I’d love to have the endorsement of environmental groups as well. Everyone should have a seat at the table.”