When we mapped out R-71's winning election result numbers, we wrote:

There is an island of support (60 to 69 percent yes) floating in a sea of waning support north of Issaquah, in the Sammamish Plateau. This is good news for Democrats. This is the state’s 5th legislative district (currently represented in Olympia by three Republicans).

As the Microsoft suburbs expand into the 5th District, it’s clearly getting more liberal, which could explain 5th district Republican state Sen. Cheryl Pflug’s vote for gay rights last session.

(The two reps from the 5th, Jay Rodne and Glenn Anderson, however, voted no. Perhaps the Democrats should look into that.)

Voila: An Eastside businessman named Dean Willard announced today that he's going to run against Anderson. Willard worked as a VP at T-Mobile (oh my) and currently works as a telecom consultant.

Willard focused on education in today's statement:

“Washington State is still only graduating 70% of it’s [sic] high school students.  As a businessperson, I know we have to do better if our kids are going to truly compete in the global economy.  I am ready to take my business experience to Olympia to improve our public schools, balance our budget and bring some business sense to the Capitol,” said Willard.

Rep. Anderson voted with the Democrats on the 67-31 education reform bill . (So did his GOP seat mate, Rep. Jay Rodne.) The state senator from the fifth, Sen. Cheryl Pflug, voted 'No.'

Eastside education activists played a giant role in pushing the bill through.

Democrats have been making steady gains on the formerly GOP-dominated east side this decade. The scorecard currently stands at: 12-3, with every seat—two reps and one senator per district (the 48th, 45th, 41st, and 47th)—filled by Democrats.

The 5th District could be the Republicans' Alamo.  State GOP spokesman Dan Brady says he's "not terribly worried about the fifth district" adding that "2010, from all indications, is going to be a good if not great year for Republicans."