Election Center
Related Coverage, Page 13
Mager, French debate raceway, waste
The “only candidate who has created jobs” will face the “only fiscal conservative” in a prerecorded county commission debate tonight at 7 on KSPS-TV. Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager will cite her opposition to the purchase of the Spokane County Raceway as evidence of her ability to pinch a penny.
Marr changing TV ad that lacked disclosure
The state Public Disclosure Commission is warning state Sen. Chris Marr that he violated campaign law by failing to mention his Democratic Party affiliation in a TV ad. Phil Stutzman, the PDC’s director of compliance, said the commission won’t open a formal investigation because Marr’s campaign agreed to change the advertisement.
Primary dominated by older voters, data show
If you don’t like the choices produced by Washington’s Aug. 17 primary, you have two choices: • Blame voters over 55, who cast most of the ballots.
Baumgartner and Marr: Income tax initiative
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner respond to the question, “Do you support Initiative 1098, which would create an income tax on individuals who earn at least $200,000 and lower the business and occupation tax and the state property tax?”
GOP far ahead in race for ad money
WASHINGTON – In one way at least, the fight for control of Congress is grossly one-sided. Just five weeks from midterm elections, groups allied with the Republican Party and financed in part by corporations and millionaires have amassed a crushing 6-1 advantage in television spending, and now are dominating the airwaves in closely contested districts and states across the country.
Centrist voters ask for options in election
WASHINGTON – Galvanized by the lightning-in-a-bottle success of conservative tea party candidates, moderate Republicans and others in the political center are looking for ways to push back against what they see as an advancing tide of ideological extremism. The efforts are loosely organized and embryonic, but politicians, advocacy groups and others are piecing together a framework to promote moderate candidates and advance positions they say have been eclipsed by partisan sniping on both the right and left.
Primary costs multiplied by precinct committee officer races
Local taxpayers shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Aug. 17 primary to help political parties elect their precinct committee officers. The primary would have cost taxpayers in Spokane County only $42,314 if state law didn’t give political parties a free ride.
McMorris Rodgers backs GOP ‘Pledge to America’
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was among congressional Republicans making a “pledge” Thursday to change the way the federal government works if they regain control. But her campaign opponent, Daryl Romeyn, said she and other Republicans should skip the grandiose statements and take some responsibility for things they did when they were in charge.
Marr and Baumgartner: North Spokane freeway
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner respond to the question, “Would you support asking voters for a gas tax increase if it included money to extend the north Spokane freeway?”
Senators, Rossi weigh in on tanker bid
The nation’s nine-year debate on how to replace Air Force tankers became a talking point in two places Tuesday: the floor of the U.S. Senate and the campaign trail in Washington state. U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington co-sponsored an amendment to next year’s defense authorization bill that could have banned European-based Airbus from getting a $35 billion contract to build the first round of replacements for the aging KC-135s. That could have sealed the deal for Boeing to replace aerial refueling tankers like the ones flown at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Marr and Baumgartner: Identifying cuts
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner respond to the question, “What specifically should be cut to balance the budget?”