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Andy Billig, the president of the Spokane Indians baseball, wants to play in a different league. He’s running for the state Legislature in central Spokane’s 3rd District.
As ballots were being cast and counted this week for the 2009 election, Billig filed papers with the state Public Disclosure Commission to run for the state House of Representatives seat currently held by seven-term incumbent Alex Wood. Both are Democrats.
To read more, go inside the blog
Billig said he’s concerned about the state’s budget problems, and believes the Legislature needs more members with a business background to tackle its financial problems.
“But the Number 1 issue is education,” Billig said, adding the state needs to do more to reduce the number of students who quit before finishing high school. “The dropout rate is part of the cycle of poverty, and improving that is going to help ease poverty.”
Billig, 41, came to
He plans a formal campaign announcement on Nov. 12.
Wood, a long-time radio announcer before winning a House seat in 1996, said Thursday he plans to decide by the end of the month whether he’ll seek re-election. He’ll announce it in early December at a meeting of a Democratic club.
Wood said he’s been contacted by Billig and a half dozen other people about a possible campaign, and if he steps down “there would be a lot of interest.” Billig said he honors Wood’s service but he plans to run whether the incumbent seeks re-election or not.
Jim Camden is a veteran political reporter for The Spokesman-Review.
Jonathan Brunt covers Spokane City Hall for The Spokesman-Review.
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CalJones on November 05 at 8:19 p.m.
I thought this was interesting, but some venturing around his facebook unveiled that a large percentage of the Envision Spokane'rs are already all over this guy. If he's not one of them now, he sure will be by next November. I think I'll stick with the alcoholic Alex Woods until someone with some sense to stay away from those people comes out to run.
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Spok on November 06 at 12:10 a.m.
Cal, you are not correct. Andy Billig never supported Prop 4.
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ChefGus on November 06 at 6:46 a.m.
Cal, if you go to Mr Billig's web site and look at the people that endorse him already, you will find that there are folks there that actually were on Anti Prop 4 television commercials here in Spokane…. do your homework… don't throw mis information about…. john
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ChefGus on November 06 at 6:48 a.m.
Mr Woods is a nice man…. but it is time for a change and a move to a person as legislative rep who is a good bit more in line with working on the issues that will be of concern to us here in the Inland Basin. john
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Lulubelle on November 06 at 6:59 a.m.
Cal - Trying to tie Waldref & Snyder to Envision obviously didn't work…why try the same old ploy with Billig?
It's not the least bit “interesting”……….it's old, stale, and booooring. Listen to what the candidate has to say and get a new shtick.
Who should we be waiting for to “come out to run” ….you?
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Verbal on November 06 at 8:12 a.m.
Personally, I wouldn't mind Woods being back on the airwaves. He left radio about the time it became “all reactionary - all the time”.
He had a damn good show on KXLY.
Just saying.
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Lulubelle on November 06 at 8:42 a.m.
I wasn't here when Wood had his radio program, but friends say it was good. I wonder though, if we could actually get back to those days when “fair and balanced” meant something. What seems to sell these days is worth wasting time listening to.
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Barb Chamberlain on November 06 at 10:18 a.m.
Andy didn't support Prop 4.
Prop 4 failed.
Can we move on to substantive issues that state legislators deal with as we discuss entrants into this race? Andy would bring business sense combined with caring, and that's a great combination.
@BarbChamberlain
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CalJones on November 06 at 10:37 a.m.
Envision has already said they are preparing for ballot access next year, which means it will be the focal point of anyone running in the 3rd and possibly the 6th and even possibly county commissioner. With these threats from Envision we all have to be prepared!
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Daisy Minken on November 07 at 5:47 p.m.
Billig doeasn't have to announce he's a bit left to actually BE a bit Left. Likewise the two new council members didn't have to actually come out and say they were for a losing cause. Things seem to change when the reality of the job shows up.
Cal…maybe the two new people faces might be a bit left of center without being crazy liberal. They won. Spokane should give them a chance before passing judgement. If they're anti growth, it spells doom for this jewel of a little city. Rookies take some time to figure out a job let alone do well/poorly in it. Just a thought…
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