Susan Hutchison leaps headlong into newfound bipartisanship

Susan "Don't Dare Call Me a Republican" Hutchison spent the primary-election campaign for King County executive pretending she wasn't a Republican. She now moves to a very obvious but important new approach to the general election: She might be Republican but will profess her inner bi-partisanship — as loudly and quickly as possible.

Last week, Hutchison said she would support Referendum 71; a yes vote retains a recently approved law giving gay and lesbian couples legal and personal benefits married couples enjoy.

She might have been expected to take a different position considering some of her past political contributions and relationships, but wanted to make clear she thinks the law should stand.

She also said she wants to hire former opponent Fred Jarrett, the Republican-turned-Democratic state senator, for her administration if she wins in November.

Talking up Jarrett as a possible team member is essential to her mad dash to the political middle. Besides, Jarrett is from Mercer Island, which enhances Seattleite Hutchison's already strong Eastside cred.

"I think of all of my opponents, Fred Jarrett has a great deal to offer the county," Hutchison said. "I invited him to join me in administration of the county and the crisis we are in and suggested we could work together in November."

Only one problem: Jarrett is not going along with the plan. She said this, mind you, after he publicly joined other Democrats who lost in the primary in the newly nonpartisan executive contest endorsing the one successful Democrat in the contest, King County Councilman Dow Constantine.

Hutchison wasn't too exercised about Jarrett's endorsement of Constantine. She said she understands he is a Democrat who must be loyal to his party.

For his part, Jarrett would not endorse Hutchison and said he thinks it is way too early to discuss what the administrative team might look like after the election, adding, "The important thing for the candidate to do is to focus on what the issues are."

In other words, he is not willing to appear to be abandoning Democrats or cozying up to Republicans.

Jarrett was a compelling and moderate candidate. He had tons of good ideas for reforming the county but lacked the name familiarity and connections to win.

For Hutchison, just talking aloud about this idea is all gain.

Wednesday, Hutchison went a step further, calling a press conference dubbed, "Susan Unveils Bi-Partisan Plan to Reform King County." Her plan was an endorsement announcement with support from two Democrats — by now, two fairly unknown Democrats — Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and former Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman

And the plan, well, there was no plan. She'll talk budget ideas later.

The press event was Hutchison's way of saying, yeah, despite trying to run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican in 2006 and contributing to Republican candidates, watch my bipartisanship. I am drowning in it.

Or something like that.

Hutchison is approaching the general election in a different manner from the primary. In the earlier campaign, she was all prepared statements and arrogance about her clear advantage in the polls. Now she is running about even in those polls with Constantine. Voilà. Tone change. Attitude adjustment.

I am not at all convinced Hutchison has the right stuff to be county executive. I don't think she knows enough about county business and its numerous challenges.

Yet a pitch for bipartisanship, even if it's campaign gimmickry, is not a bad idea. Democrats and Republicans working together may be the only way the financially beleaguered county can survive and thrive.

Joni Balter's column appears regularly on the editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is jbalter@seattletimes.com.