In brief: Republican kicks off race for Marr’s 6th District seat

Republicans aren’t giving up on the 6th District state Senate seat won four years go by Democrat Chris Marr, despite Marr’s large campaign war chest.

The crescent-shaped district, which covers a large swath of north, south and west Spokane, is one of the most competitive in the state.

Michael Baumgartner, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an employee of the U.S. State Department, announced earlier this year that he would run for the seat, and Republicans appear to be embracing his campaign.

On Friday, he held a campaign kickoff, which included a speech from state Attorney General Rob McKenna. Baumgartner’s campaign manager, Michael Cathcart, said more than 350 people attended.

Marr, who was the first Democrat to win the seat in more than 50 years, voted against the tax package eventually signed into law this year by Gov. Chris Gregoire. He has raised more than $180,000 for his campaign, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Baumgartner has raised about $30,000.

Nomination period opens for Conservation Futures

A nomination period begins today for land people think the Spokane County Conservation Futures program should purchase.

After the nomination period closes July 31, county officials will establish a new priority list of possible acquisitions from willing sellers. A handful of properties on the current list will be dropped if they aren’t renominated.

The Conservation Futures program uses a voter-approved property tax – 6 cents per $1,000 of assessed value – to purchase land for open space, wildlife habitat, low-impact recreation and similar public uses.

Nomination forms are available under the “Conservation Futures” link on the county Parks Department website: www.spokanecounty.org/parks. Depending on where the nominated property is located, the forms should be sent to the Spokane County, Spokane or Spokane Valley parks departments.

For more information, contact county park planner Paul Knowles at (509) 477-2188 or pknowles@spokanecounty.org.

Grandmother, 77, falls victim to phony arrest scam

Law enforcement is again warning of a swindle known as the grandparents scam after a 77-year-old Spokane County woman sent $3,000 to a con man claiming to be her grandson.

The woman sent the money to Kent, England, on Wednesday after receiving a call from someone she thought was her grandson, who said he had been arrested at the Canadian border after a friend was caught with drugs, and he needed money for bail.

When the man called again on Thursday requesting she send $2,500 to Niagara Falls, employees at Western Union persuaded her not to comply.

The woman learned of the scam after calling her grandson.

Last fall, a similar scam bilked a Spokane woman out of $17,000. And last month, Walmart employees stopped a woman from sending $4,200 to a supposed lawyer in Canada.

YWCA joins nationwide effort against racism

The Spokane YWCA on Friday joined other chapters across the country in what group leaders hope will be a long-standing effort against racism.

It was the first time the local chapter has participated in the national Stand Against Racism, now in its third year.

Local YWCA leaders said the event is a prelude to educational events that will be announced later this month.

The approximately 60 attendees recited a pledge Friday at the YWCA, 920 N. Monroe St., then signed a banner featuring the pledge.

The banner will hang in the building’s entrance “so we have a visual reminder of the commitment that we’re making today,” said Cynthia Benzel, president of the board of directors.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand people across the country are doing something like this today,” Benzel said.

The board recently finished a new strategic plan, and becoming a source for anti-racist awareness is a key goal, she said.