Cornfield: I-405 troubles could sink Gov. Inslee’s administration

The amount of frustration created by the I-405 express tolls lanes could spill into the election and spell doom for Gov. Jay Inslee, according to one state political pundit.

Daily Herald political reporter Jerry Cornfield told Seattle’s Morning News that the thousands of people impacted by the decision to try and social engineer the tolls could retaliate at the polls.

“It could carry into the election and be the end of the governor’s administration over one single issue, because of frustration,” Cornfield told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross.

Related: I-405 express toll lanes become gold mine for the state

I-405 has already led to the firing of one top official with the state. Lynn Peterson, the former secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation, was denied appointment from her position by the Senate earlier this month. Included in the reasons senators voted to oust Peterson from the post was the issues associated with I-405. State Sen. Andy Hill even called the tolling system “a nightmare.”

Inslee immediately came out in support of Peterson and the work she’s done.

Voters may not see the firing of Peterson as enough, though, or any potential adjustments the state makes to the toll lanes and I-405. As Dave Ross points out, it’s an issue that effects people’s lives every day.

I-405 isn’t the only state project impacting people’s lives and has the potential to backfire during the election. The Seattle tunnel project remains indefinitely stalled until Inslee gives the contractor the go-ahead. Cornfield says the governor has given no indication of what, exactly, he wants to see accomplished before Bertha the tunneling machine can start turning again.

“That’s going to be a difficult problem in Seattle because those businesses are impacted,” Cornfield said. “People’s lives are impacted if nothing is happening.”

Whether or not Inslee will keep the support of voters remains to be seen. In Olympia, however, some lawmakers haven’t quite embraced him. Cornfield says Inslee hasn’t built relationships like past governors and the governor’s focus has been less of day-to-day operations and more on broader issues.

“This governor has had trouble building relationships with Republican leaders since the get-go,” Cornfield said.

There’s a chance Inslee will try to mend relationships with voters and lawmakers Tuesday. Inslee will announce changes to I-405, among other things.

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