As it turns out, voters aren’t sick of it. Voters in the 23rd Legislative district sent a clear message to Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) Tuesday night: Her work is not yet done. Appleton, the incumbent, pulled in 63 percent of the votes to defeat Republican challenger Larry Cooney in the general election. Those results were as of 8:15 p.m.

Cooney was most known for his orange signs and T-shirts and his campaign slogan, “Aren’t you sick of it.” Amidst Democratic celebrants at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, Appleton said her agenda remains the same as it was before the election. She vowed to stay true to the ideals of her district and fight the tough fight in Olympia. Most of her agenda is already set for the next legislative session, she said. Among her goals: to get the Transportation Committee out of ferry operations and to get more funding for the ferries. She’s also gearing up to push for universal health coverage.

“We spend more money on people who are uninsured than we do on people who are insured,” she said. “Those without insurance either wait until they are critical to seek care or use emergency rooms for primary care. She reiterated her commitment to the restoring the health of the Puget Sound and the Hood Canal, citing the dwindling orca population as a guidepost. “In the 1970s, we had orca pods that numbered 274 orca, now we have 78.”