Spokane7
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November 1, 2009 in City
Campaigners count down to Tuesday
About one-quarter of Spokane County ballots had been returned by Friday
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.
And Spokane city voters are being asked to approve $33 million for fire equipment and determine whether their charter, the equivalent of a municipal constitution, needs a “Bill of Rights.” And if it does, how should the city pay for any changes that wind up costing money.
All but one of Washington’s counties votes by mail, so in one sense the election has been happening for more than two weeks. Campaign literature started filling mailboxes before that and yard signs went up months ago.
But many ballots still remain on desks or kitchen counters, under magazines or early holiday catalogs. The latest figures from Spokane County showed only about one voter in four had mailed in a ballot or dropped it off at a collection box. Secretary of State Sam Reed said recently only about half of the voters will cast a ballot – although he added he’d be happy to be proved wrong if that’s an underestimate.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights on ballots in the Spokane area:
Initiative 1033 would place restrictions on how much the state, counties and cities can spend from year to year, limiting any increases to a formula that takes the previous year and accounts for inflation and population growth. Perennial initiative sponsor Tim Eyman describes it as a way to rein in an ever-expanding government, and has picked up endorsements from conservatives and some business groups like the National Federation of Independent Business. Government officials, large companies that include Microsoft, Group Health and Avista, and state and national unions are involved in a full-court press to defeat it.
Referendum 71 gives voters a chance to decide whether the Legislature did the right thing by expanding domestic partnership rights with a bill that was called “everything but marriage.” The rights, which are being offered to same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples over 62, cover such things as community property, visitation at hospitals, many estate and tax issues and, for public employees, many workplace benefits. Opponents of the bill, who contend this is akin to same-sex marriage, gathered signatures on petitions to place it before voters. But to stop the law from taking effect, a voter marks “rejected”; those who support the rights would mark “approved.”
Spokane ballot measures include Proposition 1, which asks voters to approve some $33 million in bonds for new fire equipment and new stations. The 10-year bonds would replace bonds approved in 1999 and cost homeowners an estimated $27 a year for each $100,000 of assessed valuation. That’s about $10 more per $100,000 of valuation than the expiring bonds. It needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
Spokane Proposition 4 offers nine amendments to the City Charter, proposing rights for residents on everything from support of local businesses and prevailing wages on certain construction projects to affordable preventive health care, housing and energy. Neighborhoods would have greater say over developments and the environment would be granted rights and corporations would lose some. The rights come as a package, so it’s an up-or-down vote. Propositions 2 and 3 ask voters how the city should pay for Prop 4, should it pass.
The cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley have spirited council races. Spokane City has one seat on the ballot in each of its three council districts. Because of term limits, the seat in northeast Spokane is open and matches Mike Fagan, a Hillyard neighborhood activist and Eyman associate, against Amber Waldref, a Logan neighborhood activist who works for the Lands Council. Councilman Mike Allen, a former Eastern Washington University administrator, faces Jon Snyder, the publisher of Out There Monthly, in the south Spokane district, and Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, a fiscal and social conservative, faces Karen Kearney, a former bank manager and campaign manager, in the northwest district.
Spokane Valley voters elect their council citywide, and have five seats on the ballot. Incumbent Gary Schimmels and Tom Towey are unopposed, and one seat that came open after the filing deadline has four candidates: Ian Robertson, who was appointed to the spot, plus Dean Grafos, Ed Pace and Edward Foote. Rich Munson, retired stock broker and longtime Republican activist who has been on the council since incorporation and currently serves as mayor, faces a challenge from state Sen. Bob McCaslin, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1980. Councilwoman Diana Wilhite, a businesswoman and former mayor who is also one of the original council members, faces a challenge from Brenda Grassel, a businesswoman and former teacher.
In the state’s 9th Legislative District, Pat Hailey, of Mesa, a farmer and rancher, and the widow of Steve Hailey who died after being elected to the seat last year, faces Susan Fagan, of Pullman, a former director of public affairs for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and a former staffer for U.S. senators in Idaho. The winner represents the state’s second-largest district for the year that’s left on the term and would face re-election next year.
Romney/Paul split weighing on county GOP 
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 01 at 7:01 a.m.
Morning Jim,
Thanks as always for the nice article… In point of fact the turnout in rural areas seems to be greater than in our fine city.
Spokane as of Oct 30:
Council District 1 % 23.40
Council District 2 % 27.03
Council District 3 % 24.21
It seems the turnout in District two is creeping up… and of course those of us that are working for Jon Snyder are hoping that represents a little tide of support to wash Mr Allen right into the Wet Lands near the Big Box Store to be in the South Regal Area. John/Gus
Lulubelle on November 01 at 7:43 a.m.
Good idea Gus, but I thought that wet land was destroyed by the developers when they were preparing for the Walmart store. Now its just a big barren field…..they stripped the property of all the foliage and trees too.
I’ll be glad if Mr. Allen just goes back to whatever he used to do before being appointed to the City council position
CalJones on November 01 at 7:57 a.m.
Proposition 4 is opposed by every member of the council from moderate conservative Nancy McLaughlin to moderate Liberals Steve Corker and Mike Allen to Far Left (bordering on socialist party) Richard Rush. Important to remember as you are filling out your ballots.
Let’s not forget about the tactics being employed by Envision Spokane (the supporters of Prop 4). They are trying to mandate a local economy through their proposition but then hypocritically purchasing their campaign signs from a Houston, TX vendor and all via an employee of an East Coast Organization called CELDF.org. To top it all off, they tried to cover it up, but were called on the mat by the PDC’s. (and have been under continuous investigation for several months.)
Unsurprisingly, the “yes” signs have begun (through out the past 2 weeks) appearing where the “No” signs once stood.
(mysteriously along with Snyder, Waldref, and No on 1033 signs….hmmmmmm………..) Seems like they are being placed by the same folks.
chefxh on November 01 at 8:19 a.m.
Please vote to APPROVE REFERENDUM 71 — my family is counting on you.
Lulubelle on November 01 at 8:20 a.m.
Cal - you already posted this silly babble yesterday……….got any new ideas?
I’m waiting for another “copy/paste” to today’s article about how SOS and SpokaneJobs2009 are actually the big spenders with out-of town business. Oops……you’re wrong again.
And another thing…….the ol’ ploy of “if i say it often enough, it will become true” just isn’t working. No matter how hard you try…you just can’t convince anybody that’s paying attention that either Snyder or Waldref support Prop 4……maybe some of your sheeple believe it , but they’d believe it anyway…so no big loss.
CalJones on November 01 at 8:37 a.m.
I’m just glad we have Mike Fitzsimmons on the air, exposing these nice PDC details about the Prop 4 people.
southie4573 on November 01 at 1:54 p.m.
Thank you to all who voted YES on referendum 71!
Don’t listen to all the haters!
Ron_the_Cop on November 01 at 3:32 p.m.
For those last minute voters looking for info on Prop ! Fire Bond even though I reluctantly voted yes when I drop my ballet a couple of weeks ago here’s some info you might want to consider:
Ten Good Reasons to Vote NO on Fire Bond (Prop #1)
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=170
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 01 at 6:09 p.m.
I’ve not commented recently… on the # 71…..
Jon Snyder is my main thing here locally.. and Lulu i lived up there when the bulldozed the wetlands long long before there was any real talk about the big box store ( other than ShopKo)… the space the tower for the television station is used to have tons of many different birds all year long.. and the developers just DID IT… way before they had proper approval ect.. ( Mr allen might likely approve) but I digress..
With Regars R-71 …..
The Picture you all see here with my name on it is myself with my Daughter Britta and her wife Jacqui at their marriage in SFO two summers ago.. fortunately they are still allowed to be married..and for what it is worth My lovely daughter who has been “out” since age 15 and is now 28 is many times more stable now that she is married… she is bipolar and having a loving caring partner to be at your side does make all the difference in the world… and so if Britta has a little “break” she can be cared for and ministered to by her lovely wife Jacqui…
How anyone could deny the couple that they are and the future they will have as a married pair is beyond my ability to discern… In my humble opinion ANY two women are much better than a wife that is abused and a mean male “husband” that abides by sharia law or old testament values… It is not likely that Jacqui will beat or berate my dear daughter… and vice versa… when you think about this.. all you undecided… remember how many mean men there are living “sanctimonious married lives”…. hypocrisy incarnate…. the terrorists in our lives live with us or next door to us.. dr john
Rifleman__Dodd on November 01 at 7:30 p.m.
Synder is a lackluster candidate. Perhaps we do need a LACKLUSTER councilman.
Verbal on November 01 at 8:05 p.m.
Lulu - the ol’ ploy of “if i say it often enough, it will become true” just isn’t working.
LOL. I’ve been trying to tell you that for 2 weeks now, and it hasn’t stopped you!
The thing about Southgate that Snyder supporters don’t want you to know is this: If the developer was not satisfied with the negotiations with the neighborhood, he could have just moved the development 10 (or so) blocks away and built on county land. The Southgate folks would still have the same traffic, and all of the other problems plus more. AND, the city would not receive any of the tax dollars.
Allen was smart and did the right thing for thing for both the neighborhood and the city. If he wins, he will continue to serve the best interest of ALL of District 2.
Lulubelle on November 02 at 6:08 a.m.
Verbal - Your Quote…..
“If the developer was not satisfied with the negotiations with the neighborhood, he could have just moved the development 10 (or so) blocks away and built on county land.”
My point exactly…………Developers and real estate salespeople care about nothing but their pocketbooks. As long as they have the French-Allen-Mclaughlin bought & paid for trio on the council they can get zoning and comp plan changes to accommodate their wishes with a mere wave of a few thousand dollars. Development interests have been calling the shots for too long. Spokane needs independent voices on the council that have some sense of the cost/benefit to the City, neighborhoods and developers.
I urge everyone to get their ballots in the mail and vote for
JON SNYDER and AMBER WALDREF.
Megan_B on November 02 at 3:22 p.m.
Thank you ChefGus for your comments on Referendum 71. This is the civil rights issue of our time, and we need to make sure it’s approved for the sake of social justice! In 60 years it will seem as accepted as interracial marriage is now - and won’t you feel silly if you had voted against it.