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Rossi counting on anger with status quo, Murray
With all the shrill attack ads savaging Democrat Patty Murray as an incompetent spendthrift or Republican Dino Rossi as a slippery bagman, it’s pretty easy to forget the two candidates for Senate have some common traits. Both had hardscrabble beginnings, growing up in large Catholic families without much money. Murray’s father was a World War II vet left jobless by multiple sclerosis; she volunteered at a Veterans Administration hospital. Rossi’s parents were teachers; he waxed floors to work his way through college.
Washington ballot measures: Tax policy
Washington voters have a near record number of initiatives on this fall’s ballot, giving them choices on raising taxes, paying taxes, buying liquor and providing for workers’ industrial insurance. Here’s a look at the tax policy ballot measures.
Washington ballot measures: State government changes
Washington voters have a near record number of initiatives on this fall’s ballot, giving them choices on raising taxes, paying taxes, buying liquor and providing for workers’ industrial insurance. Here’s a look at the state government changes ballot measures.
City of Spokane: Proposition 1
Backers of the proposed Children’s Investment Fund want to attack Spokane’s dismal 29 percent high school dropout rate with a series of programs designed to promote early childhood education and intervention programs.
Washington U.S. Senate race
As a three-term incumbent Democrat in a state that supported Barack Obama, John Kerry and Al Gore, Patty Murray theoretically should have an easy time winning a fourth term. But elections aren’t about theory, and Washington’s Senate race is anything but easy for Murray or Republican challenger Dino Rossi.
Washington’s 5th Congressional District
Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers faces Democrat Daryl Romeyn.
Washington Legislature, District 3, House Position 1
Although the district leans Democratic, it was a Republican who topped the August primary for the seat that will soon be vacated by retiring state Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane.
Washington Legislature, District 3, House Position 2
Republican Morgan Oyler has a tough challenge. The county GOP has declined to back him and Democratic incumbent state Rep. Timm Ormsby had a strong showing in the primary, winning 62 percent of the vote.
Washington Legislature, District 6, Senate
Even in the primary – when both candidates for the 6th Legislative Senate seat were guaranteed to move to the November election – the race between Chris Marr and Michael Baumgartner was quarrelsome.
Washington Legislature, District 6, House Position 2
It’s round two in the matchup between Democrat John Driscoll and Republican John Ahern.
Washington Legislature, District 7, Senate
State Sen. Bob Morton, a 16-year incumbent, faces Democrat Barbara Mowrey, a former Chewelah councilwoman who believes he and other legislators aren’t doing enough to ensure the rights of grandparents and other relatives in child placement cases.
Washington Legislature, District 9, House Position 2
Solidly Republican, this district has no Democrats on the legislative ballot, although Rep. Joe Schmick, of Colfax, faces an intraparty challenge from Glen Stockwell, who has run unsuccessfully under the GOP and Democratic banners in previous years. It’s a rematch of sorts: Both ran in 1996 but didn’t make it past the primary.
Spokane County Commission, Position 3
Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager and her re-election challenger, former Spokane City Councilman Al French, seem to have mixed up their political party playbooks.
Spokane County assessor race
Incumbent Ralph Baker faces a challenge from one of his own appraisers, Vicki Horton, who accuses him of mismanagement.
Spokane County prosecutor race
The shooting of a pastor in Spokane Valley has dominated the discussion of the race for Spokane County prosecutor after incumbent Steve Tucker survived a challenge by two other Republicans for the chance at first-time Democrat Frank Malone.
Spokane County auditor race
Vicky Dalton, seeking a fourth four-year term as auditor, is challenged by Realtor Leonard Christian.
Spokane County treasurer’s race
Treasurer Skip Chilberg and challenger Rob Chase are in a race that started as a walk.
Spokane County District Court, Position 6 race
Local defense attorney Timothy S. Note is challenging one-term incumbent Judge Debra R. Hayes in the District Court’s only contested race this year. The challenger’s campaign has raised questions about how much time Hayes spends on the job.
Washington Supreme Court, Position 6 race
Incumbent Justice Richard Sanders beat Bainbridge Island attorney Charlie Wiggins in a three-way primary election. As the top two vote-getters, both candidates advanced to the Nov. 2 general election because Sanders failed to capture more than 50 percent of the vote in the race, which eliminated Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff.