"radical," declared that she would hire only "wise and godly people" as staffers, and listed God at the top of her campaign organization chart. Education also became an important issue during the campaign, with Craswell supporting heavy localization and a tuition-based system for all schools, and Democratic opponent Gary Locke supporting a more state-centric system. Craswell ran a grassroots campaign, receiving campaign contributions from only individuals and advertising only on billboards and yard signs and at campaign events. Craswell's outspoken position on social issues – including comments that gay rights were "special rights for sodomites" – did not resonate with voters in the state. In November, Craswell was defeated by Locke, receiving only 42.04% of the vote. Subsequent activity Following her defeat in the election, Craswell switched party affiliation to the Christian right American Heritage Party (AHP). Her husband, Bruce, ran under the party's banner in the 1st congressional district and received 6.11%. When the AHP (then a state affiliate of the Constitution Party) attempted to disaffiliate from the national party (CP), it caused an acrimonious schism resulting in non-renewal by over 90 percent of the state party members. The Craswells left both the American Heritage Party and the Constitution Party and became independents. Personal life In 1955, she married Bruce Craswell, a dentist who she had met in college. Craswell lived with her family in the Poulsbo, Washington area, until her death on April 5, 2008. She had four children and 14 grandchildren. She had been diagnosed with cancer twice before, but succumbed to her third bout with the disease. After retiring from politics, Craswell remained fairly quiet, granting few interviews. References External links A 2005 interview with Ellen Craswell (Seattle Times Magazine) 1996 Gubernatorial Election Results (Washington Secretary of State Election Results) 1996 Candidate Bios (Ellen Craswell Candidate Page) (CNN AllPolitics) TVW.org (televised memorial service at Christ Memorial Church, Poulsbo, WA, April 16, 2008) 1932 births 2008 deaths 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians American Heritage Party politicians Republican Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Republican Party Washington (state) state senators Women state legislators in Washington (state) 21st-century American women