Science Center Trailing At Polls

A proposal to move a science center into Spokane’s Riverfront Park Pavilion was losing late Tuesday in Washington primary voting.

By a 54-46 percent margin, city voters were choosing the status quo over a new use for the heart of the park, the site of the 1974 world’s fair.

City Council members approved a 20-year lease with the Seattle-based Pacific Science Center last March. A month later, a successful petition drive pushed the issue onto the primary ballot.

For months, supporters talked passionately about the center’s tremendous benefits - offering hands-on science to children and adults.

Critics argued just as passionately about the project’s unknown costs and its effect on the park’s carnival rides.

In the race for Spokane County commissioner, John Roskelley led incumbent George Marlton by a wide margin for the Democratic nomination, while Martin Burnette was narrowly out in front of fellow Republicans Art Meikel and Mike Davis.

Independent Chris Anderson, a Spokane City Council member, will also advance.

Tax-increase proposals to build a new stadium for the Seattle Mariners and a grand new urban park in Seattle were losing as absentees and early votes were counted.

The ballpark, which carries a price tag of about $325 million, mostly in tax funding, was failing 55 percent to 45 percent.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed in the Spokane edition.