County Democrats hope this is ‘our year’

Some 200 Democrats hoping to ride a rising tide this fall gathered Saturday to bash practically all things Republican.

Their candidates denounced problems with corruption in Congress, which they don’t control, and obstructionists in the Legislature, which they do. Public opinion polls for President Bush are bad, and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas is resigning.

“If this isn’t our year, I’ve never seen our year,” state Rep. Alex Wood told delegates to the Spokane County Democratic Convention. He predicted a “tidal wave” could hit Republicans.

Many gathered in the Sacajawea Middle School gymnasium got their first look at Okanogan rancher and former Washington State University regent Peter Goldmark, who recently began a congressional campaign against Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris. He promised to “get dirty money and corrupt lobbyists out of Congress” and to “rein in completely out of control spending.”

They also got a preview of the county’s only Democratic primary at this point, a contest between George Orr and Bonnie Mager for the chance to run against Republican County Commissioner Phil Harris.

“We need to restore some balance in our courthouse,” said Orr, a long-time Valley firefighter and former legislator.

“It’s past time to replace good-old boy Phil Harris with a no-nonsense woman,” said Mager, a local environmental and neighborhood activist. “Everywhere I go, I find that the winds of change are blowing.”

But whether the winds are blowing or the tide is rising or any other meteorological metaphor is pending, local Democrats have a problem: At the county level, they currently have no one to run for prosecutor, sheriff, treasurer or clerk. Some legislative seats in the 4th, 6th 7th and 9th districts also have no announced candidates.

At one point early in the convention, County Chairwoman Sharon Smith suggested that anyone truly interested in getting involved might want to consider running.

While candidates have until July to file for office, those who start campaigns in the coming weeks or months missed a key opportunity the convention provides: a few minutes to address the faithful and possibly pick up financial support or volunteers.

The main goal of the off-year convention was to approve a county platform or statement of values that would guide those candidates on key issues.

That platform came down strongly in support of renewable energy, a cleaner environment and science that is free of political interference; rebuilding and encouraging democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not giving military or economic support to governments that violate human rights; combating hunger and disease throughout the world; support for the troops, but adding “our military men and women should always have leadership worthy of them.”

There was no debate over the war in Iraq, although a resolution for a withdrawal from Iraq was one of 44 that were filed to be considered and sent to the state convention in June. The delegates did pass a resolution against any city plan to sell Joe Albi Stadium, and voiced support for a U.S. Senate resolution to censure Bush over wiretaps that were conducted without a court order.