Brown Bounces Moyer Out Of Senate

Legislative races

Democrat Lisa Brown ousted Republican state Sen. John Moyer Tuesday, overcoming some of the most aggressive attack ads aimed at any state legislative candidate in Spokane history.

Brown held a commanding lead over Moyer late Tuesday for the 3rd District Senate seat.

The victory wasn’t a surprise. In the September primary, Brown picked up 57 percent of the vote to Moyer’s 43.

But the battle was hard-fought.

One of Moyer’s television ads cast Brown as a radically liberal, manipulative college professor who tests her economic and social theories on the unassuming masses. Another ad suggested she coddles sex offenders and refuses to protect Spokane children.

Brown said late Tuesday that she was initially concerned about the attack ads’ message.

But “it didn’t work,” she said. “I think people are fed up with it.”

Brown, a state representative since 1992, has taught economics at Eastern Washington University since 1986. She was considered a rising talent in the House - picked as floor leader by her colleagues - before she decided to run for Senate.

Moyer, 74, was a physician in Spokane for 30 years before becoming a legislator in 1986. He was elected to the Senate in 1992, beating Democrat Bill Day.

Moyer is considered by Senate colleagues to be a thoughtful lawmaker and an expert on health issues.

Mostly young political novices vied for the two 3rd District House seats. Democrats claimed both seats.

Late Tuesday, Democrat Alex Wood was trouncing Republican Brendon Hill for Position 1.

Wood, 50, a longtime Spokane radio personality, said during a debate that he favors legalizing drugs as an experiment. He later said that he wouldn’t vote to legalize drugs unless most of his constituents agreed.

Hill, 28, a wine steward at Patsy Clark’s, tried to capitalize on Wood’s admission. He put up signs all over the 3rd District stating: “Vote No on Alex Wood. Vote No on Legalizing Drugs. Vote for Hill.”

For Position 2, Democrat Jeff Gombosky, 25, handily beat Republican Ken Whitehall, 24.

Gombosky is the director of the Neighborhood Leadership Council in north Spokane. Whitehall, a Taco Bell shift manager, jumped into politics after the 1994 murder of his fiancee, Felicia Reese.

4th District: Incumbent Republican Sen. Bob McCaslin held onto his seat Tuesday, maintaining a solid lead over Democrat George Orr.

McCaslin, 70, won his fifth term.

Orr lost a House seat in 1994 to Larry Crouse, who held onto that Position 1 seat Tuesday.

Republican Crouse led Democratic challenger Frank Galizia by a large margin.

Incumbent Republican Mark Sterk was unopposed for the Position 2 House seat.

6th District: Republican Brad Benson held a solid lead over Democrat Judy Personett for the Position 1 House seat.

Benson, 37, is an Air Force veteran who runs an ice cream store. He advocates fewer regulations and taxes. His main issues are education and crime.

For the Position 2 seat, Republican incumbent Duane Sommers was leading Democrat challenger Jerry Hopkins, former president of the Spokane Education Association.

7th District: Republican Bob Sump led Democrat Kurt Matter for the Position 1 House seat.

Sump, 55, is a heavy equipment mechanic for Echo Bay Minerals in Republic. Although a political newcomer, he was backed by some of the timber and mining companies that are the backbone of the 7th District’s economy.

For the Position 2 seat, Republican Cathy McMorris held a strong lead over Democrat Brad Lyons.

McMorris, 27, was defending her position for the second time since she was appointed in January 1994. She won the general election in November of that year.

McMorris was state Rep. Bob Morton’s administrative assistant before he was appointed to the state Senate and she took his House seat.

9th District: Student Brian Day and milkman Bob Henager - both Democratic political novices - were no match for two-term Republican Reps. Mark Schoesler and Larry Sheahan.

Schoesler, 39, is a Ritzville farmer whose platform included tougher penalties for juvenile criminals. He was challenged by Henager.

Sheahan, 36, a Rosalia attorney, won easily over Day. Sheahan vowed to boost money for higher education and for the area’s many small schools.

Veteran state Sen. Eugene Prince, a Republican, was unopposed in the general election.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Kim Barker Staff writer Staff writers Jim Lynch, Rich Roesler, John Craig and Brian Coddington contributed to this report.