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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Election 2009

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News >  Spokane

Today’s postmark a must on mail-ins

It’s Election Day in Washington and Idaho. Although the 2009 elections may not have as many momentous decisions as last year, voters are being asked to decide a range of local races and issues. Washington residents, who primarily vote by mail, must have their ballots postmarked by today. Elections officials suggest taking the ballot to a post office and asking a postal worker to have it postmarked today, rather than depositing it in a neighborhood mailbox.
News >  Spokane

Campaigners count down to Tuesday

Washington voters who have yet to turn in their ballots – and based on the latest figures, that’s most of us – have some interesting choices to make between now and Tuesday. The buildup to this off-year election is admittedly many decibel levels below last year’s presidential contest. The races, and many of the issues, are local. But voters across the state still must decide some complicated issues on government spending and domestic partnerships. Southeast Washington’s 9th Legislative District needs to fill an opening in the state House of Representatives. Cities and towns have council seats up for grabs, and some are electing mayors. School, fire and water districts are filling board positions.
Opinion

Local impact of Tuesday’s election begs participation

Washington state posted a record 85 percent voter turnout last year, thanks to intense interest in the heated Obama-McCain presidential race as well as the repeat Gregoire-Rossi gubernatorial contest. No such star-caliber showdowns are at stake this year – and similar voter traffic is not expected. Secretary of State Sam Reed has predicted a 51 percent turnout statewide, calling it “respectable,” which is to say on par with other odd-year voter turnouts. Among other decisions that will be rendered in Tuesday’s election, communities in Washington and Idaho will be choosing local officials who govern the towns and cities where they work, live, shop and play. If about half of the voters take part in those decisions, about half don’t.
News >  Spokane

Following trail of Prop 4 campaign spending turns up twist

Among the talking points hotly debated by both sides in the campaign over the city of Spokane’s Proposition 4 is whether the proposed changes are good or bad for local business. The talking point on the “Yes” side says a requirement for local banks to reinvest local money in local business will pump more money into the Spokane economy and help mom-and-pop businesses struggling against the national chains and big-box stores. The talking point on the “No” side says that provision isn’t what local businesses need, and requirements for prevailing wages and apprenticeship programs will put locals at a disadvantage against competitors just across the city line.
News >  Spokane

Following their campaigns’ cash

Heading into the final weekend before the election, Spokane City Council candidates have raised about $188,000 for their campaigns. That’s more than the $125,000 candidates raised in 2007 – when council candidates had to jockey for contributions at the same time mayoral and City Council president hopefuls also were in the mix. But it’s less than the $206,000 council candidates gathered in 2005.
News >  Spokane

Mayoral challengers focus on spending, jobs

Three challengers seek to unseat mayors in Kootenai County’s two largest cities Nov. 3. In Coeur d’Alene, Joseph Kunka is attempting to prevent Sandi Bloem, the city’s first female mayor, from also becoming the first to serve three terms. In Post Falls, Mayor Clay Larkin faces private investigator Steven De Gon and Matthew Behringer, a call center worker.
News >  Spokane

City seeks firefighting tax

When the Spokane City Council placed a 10-year fire tax on November’s ballot, the timing was risky. But an agreement reached last month with the Spokane Fire Fighters Union helped alleviate that risk. That’s because the city no longer is contemplating cutting fire jobs or closing a fire station at the same time it’s requesting money for new stations and equipment.
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