Washington Democrats want Republicans to pay

OLYMPIA – State Democrats want Republicans to reimburse them about $48,000 in court costs for the contested governors’ race that ended in victory for Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire.

While the state party wasn’t named in a lawsuit filed by Republican opponent Dino Rossi and Republicans, Democrats say they spent nearly $3.5 million in legal costs to defend Gregoire’s election.

“We have paid a heavy price to defend our rights, and we think it is only fair that the Republicans should pay for some of those costs for essentially dragging us into court,” said Democrat Chairman Paul Berendt.

The June 15 filing is before Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges, who earlier this month dismissed Republican claims that the election was fatally flawed by errors and fraud by election officials and that Rossi was the rightful winner.

The motion was filed by Democrats the same day they cashed a check from the secretary of state’s office for the money they had to pony up for a hand recount.

After Rossi won the first two tallies, Democrats were required to pay $730,000 in December to pay for a third and final count – an unprecedented statewide hand count. Since that count ultimately changed the outcome later that month, the Democrats were entitled to get their money back.

But Berendt had argued they deserved 12 percent interest, not the 2 percent that the state said the money actually earned.

Berendt eventually dropped his claim to the additional money, but now argues that Republicans should reimburse them for costs associated with preparation for depositions and limited costs for collecting evidence, such as photocopying expenses.

“The Republicans need to think long and hard about making such frivolous charges in the future,” Berendt said.

Bridges, who will not hear oral arguments on the issue, will decide after both sides file written arguments.

State Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance said attorneys were still studying the motion by Democrats, and that he wasn’t sure what the party’s response would be.

“What else are the Democrats going to do?” Vance asked.

“At first they tried to extort the people of the state of Washington by asking for 12 percent (interest), now they’re asking us for money. They can’t manage their own party.”