21st Legislative District: Mary Helen Roberts, Marko Liias Unopposed

Because they ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary, both Mary Helen Roberts and Marko Liias will both be serving the 21st Legislative District through 2015.

Both Democrats are incumbents in the Washington House of Representatives.

Roberts, 63, holds Position 1 in the district, which includes portions of Edmonds, as well as Mukilteo and portions of Lynnwood and Everett. She received 9,753 votes (96.75 percent of total) in early returns Tuesday.

She is a native of Oregon who was first elected to the House in 2004. For eight years she served as a member of the Edmonds Community College Board of Trustees, and she is a co-founder and former chair of the Children’s Campaign Fund.

Liias, a Mukilteo native who graduated from Kamiak High School, now lives in Edmonds and holds Position 2. He received 9,252 votes (94.88 percent of total) in early returns Tuesday.

He was first appointed to the House in 2007, after the resignation of Brian Sullivan. He subsequently won in 2008 and 2010.

Liias had originally intended to run as a candidate for the Congressional District 1 seat vacated by Jay Inslee, who left to run for governor. But Liias decided not to run after redistricting.

Liias, who is openly gay, is a strong advocate of gay rights.