Hawkins easy winner in race for coroner

By DAVID LESTER
Yakima Herald-Republic

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YAKIMA, Wash. -- With 75 percent of the vote, Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins easily won his bid to complete the four-year term of retired Coroner Maury Rice.

Hawkins, 60, a former police officer and deputy sheriff, outdistanced political newcomer Melinda Shoop, a nurse and operator of a Yakima yarn shop.

Hawkins received 20,625 votes, or 75 percent, to 6,969 votes, or 25 percent, for Shoop.

Hawkins said he was very pleased with the outcome and credited it to his many years in local law enforcement and the support of police, hospitals and funeral homes. Hawkins spent 25 years in law enforcement for Yakima County and the city of Yakima.

"I have been in this community my whole life. That means a lot to people," Hawkins said in the crowded hallway outside the Auditor's Office vote-counting room. "This job is an extension of my career. All the people I have worked with in this community know what I have done and I will continue to do it."

Hawkins ran as a Republican. Shoop ran as a Democrat.

During the campaign, Shoop, 60, said her nurse's training qualified her to be the coroner because nurses are observant and can do a thorough examination of a body.

She also said she'd add more investigation of sexual assaults that may occur in the course of a homicide.

Hawkins, who was appointed coroner in May when Rice retired, will have to run again next year for a four-year term.

Hawkins served as Rice's deputy coroner for almost three years.

 

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.

 

 



Commentsicon2
Posted by randomusername at 11/04/09 12:21AM        Post ID#: #16920

Why on Earth is coroner even an elected position? Get rid of this office and replace it with a medical examiner, like the rest of the civilized world.

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Posted by ForYourInfo at 11/04/09 09:10AM        Post ID#: #16955

What difference does it make if the coroner is dem or repub. As if one or the other would make them a better coronor. Somebody please explain to me how which party they pertain to matters in this job. Would a gop coronor come to a better conclusion then a dem? I thought this position would be based on qualifications.

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Posted by Aintthatfunny at 11/04/09 12:37PM        Post ID#: #17031

Thanks Dave L. for writing a news story and not a tabloid hit wonder. You are the best.

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