Campaign ‘95

Other voices

The rap against newspapers is that nobody reads us anymore. So as a public service, we offer a summary of editorial positions on city-county consolidation. The Spokesman-Review endorsed the proposal on Oct. 29 … The Spokane Valley News reluctantly endorsed the proposal, but only because it looks like Valley residents have no interest in forming a city … The Inlander endorsed consolidation as an alternative to “this all-too-well-traveled road” of separate governments … .The (Deer Park) Tribune did not take a stand but ran a guest editorial opposing consolidation … The Valley Herald has made its preference clear in nearly every issue since freeholders were elected in 1992. Incorporation, yes. Consolidation, no.

Typo time

Speaking of the Herald, we’re sure that paper’s editorial stance had nothing to do with the incorrect listing of the phone number for the pro-charter group, We the People, despite what some of that group’s members contend. The correct number is 927-2279 … We know how these typographical mistakes can happen, although we hope we never miss five out of the seven digits in a phone number … And speaking of phone numbers, Ed Mertens of the anti-consolidation Community Action Committee said don’t bother calling the number listed on their big red billboards. They never get the messages you leave after the beep. Instead, call 926-9930

Best guess time

Tuesday’s ballot is so complicated and unusual for a non-mayoral, off-year election that Spokane County Elections Supervisor Tom Wilbur is wary of making a prediction on turnout. Could be far above 60 percent, could be down closer to 50 percent … Four years ago, with a heavy list of state initiatives and a local proposal to increase the number of county commissioners, turnout hit 67 percent. Four years earlier, with a fairly light ballot and no hot council races, it was about 55 percent.

Campaign spending update

Campaign ‘95 is happy to report that most local candidates met their Halloween deadline for filing campaign contribution and spending summaries. As of late Friday afternoon, which was three days after the deadline, only County Commission candidate John Roskelley’s and City Councilwoman Bev Number’s summaries were missing … Considering the fact that Roskelley has met all previous deadlines, and he filed a contribution report from October 30, we’re willing to chalk that up to a delay in the mail. Numbers said she’s sure hers have been mailed too, but a check of the files show she’s also tardy for her Oct. 17 report.

Speaking of money

While looking through the campaign contribution reports, we couldn’t help but be struck by some of the disparities in funds … Our vote for the worst money matchup goes to the 4th Legislative District race between Mary “Chey” Austin and Mark Sterk … Democrat Austin had $7,071 as of Halloween, with a few decent-sized donations from labor groups. Incumbent Republican Sterk had a whopping $55,882, with help from some of the big state political action committees.

We didn’t stop the presses, but…

Fourteen freeholders held a press conference Wednesday to announce that five months after they finished writing the unified charter, they still like it.

Campaign Calendar

Monday: Last day to file as a write-in candidate and to obtain an absentee ballot.

Tuesday: Election day. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

, DataTimes MEMO: Campaign ‘95 is published weekly during election season, and is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can send information about political forums or meetings to us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a touch-tone phone, then press 9893 to leave a message. Or send E-mail to jimc@spokesman.com for on-line readers.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports