Richard Pope is a perennial candidate. He has run 10 times for different offices and usually his races are under the radar.

But this time, the Bellevue attorney is turning as a Democrat and he is coming under fire suggesting Republicans may see him as a serious threat.

Richard Pope readily admits he has ad some trying times – single dad, raising a daughter with severe autism.

"My daughter is four-and-a-half years old, and she still hasn't spoken her first word, and it's very difficult to understand what she wants, or to let her know what you want, that's the most difficult part of it," he said.

Now, as a Democratic candidate for King County Council, he is under attack. Republicans are sending out fliers and posting a Web site accusing him of mental illness and a history of instability.

"Well, I think it's a very hateful and hurtful negative campaigning," he said.

Republicans say 11 years ago, a woman accused Pope of cursing and threatening her in a deposition, lunging across a table

"He said it himself, we're not accusing him of anything, that's what he said in his own statements to the courts," said Michael Young, King County Republican Party.

Pope admits as an attorney, he has lost his temper, but says he never threatened anyone.

In another case, Pope explained to a judge that he missed court deadlines because of his mental state and the death of his father.

"Anybody with a parent dying on them would, dealing with the stress of a divorce, with a child with special needs, I think that has a big impact people and I was honest enough to admit it," said Pope.

"The biggest concern to me, is the allegations of his treatment of women," said Jane Hague, Republican incumbent, whom Pope is challenging.

Once considered a shoe-in for re-election, Hague has been plagued with her own problems: a recent arrest for drunk driving – a charge she is contesting, though she apologized publicly for swearing and her abusive behavior toward officers.

Hague has also paid fines for campaign violations and acknowledges she does not have a college degree despite approving biographies that said she did.

Republicans point out that various groups, like the Municipal League, have rated Pope unqualified.

Pope points out he has never been convicted of any crime and he says when he was running for public office as a Republican, Republicans never brought up these issues, only now that he has switched parties.