Baumgartner, Cowan closely matched in race for Senate seat

Given the chance to pose a question to each other, Democratic state Senate challenger Rich Cowan sought to drill down on the issues, asking Republican incumbent Michael Baumgartner recently about his opposition to expanding medical coverage for the working poor and pointing out its importance to communities like Spokane where wages lag well behind the statewide average.

Unfazed, Baumgartner explained it potentially commits the state to substantial ongoing costs after the federal grants are exhausted and quickly added that he was on the losing side of that battle. Then he took his turn: If elected and able to take a political adviser to Olympia with him, would Cowan choose Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, the late movie star John Wayne or the late Apple Computers founder Steve Jobs?

Cowan opted for Steve Jobs, expertly articulating his rationale.

But it didn’t really matter.

The audience, after nearly 40 minutes of often dense debate, still was chuckling at the welcome reprieve of an otherwise throw-away question, pausing long enough only to hear Baumgartner share that he keeps a picture of “the Duke” hanging in his office as a reminder that sometimes you need to go with your gut.

The exchange illustrates the landscape of this fall’s battle for the 6th Legislative District Senate seat.

Cowan is a careful, effective public speaker, but Baumgartner knows how to work a crowd.

Both are well-versed in the economic challenges of the Spokane region and the political demands of Olympia. Both agree that the top priorities include economic development and new jobs, encouraging growth of aerospace industries on the West Plains, fully paying for education and getting the North Spokane Corridor completed – though they differ on how all that would best be achieved.

Each also brings the experience of losing a congressional bid two years ago and the political soul-searching that goes with that.

Baumgartner, 38, now is looking for a second four-year term in the after having helped engineer the conservative takeover two years ago when a pair of crossover Democrats joined the chamber’s otherwise outnumbered Republicans to form a bipartisan voting bloc. He cites his success pushing to consolidate state agencies, privatize certain state functions and secure millions for expanding medical education at Spokane’s Riverpoint campus while demanding greater fiscal responsibility.

“I think he’s going to be a leader in a number of policy areas,” said Senate GOP Leader Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, who is poised to become majority leader if Republicans win all the seats they’re expected to this fall. “We never would have been able to freeze tuition for the first time in 30-plus years if it hadn’t been for Michael’s bold leadership. That was great middle-class tax relief that everyone’s taking credit for now, but it was Michael’s doing.”

A former foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, Baumgartner was raised in Pullman but moved to Spokane after returning to the United States from the Middle East.

“This election really is about the balance of power in Olympia,” Baumgartner said, noting that the state House and the governor’s office are controlled by Democrats. “We are going to continue to work to reform government and create bipartisan budgets.”

Cowan, 58, is running as a conservative Democrat, a successful businessman who built a movie studio from scratch that’s brought dozens of Hollywood productions to Spokane. Along the way he’s developed a knack for building consensus and navigating through difficult negotiations, with much of his campaign pitch focused on his ability to balance what’s needed to build a successful business while also creating higher-paying jobs.

“I think Rich is the perfect example of someone who’s willing to vote across party lines to do the right thing,” said Harry Sladich, chief operating officer for Red Lion Hotels and among the Republicans backing Cowan’s campaign. “What impresses me about Rich is his ability to listen and to negotiate effective compromises.”

Cowan says that while Baumgartner talks about compromise and bipartisanship, he’s unnecessarily antagonistic, using social media to insult the state Supreme Court and belittle political adversaries, for example.

“Politics is about learning from folks who disagree with you,” he said. “That’s how we solve problems.”

He has an uphill climb, though.

With the 6th District typically one of the most expensive races in the state, Baumgartner has a substantial fundraising advantage and topped Cowan in the August primary by 14 percentage points.

Both candidates tend to avoid discussing specifically how they’ll find the money for economic development initiatives or resolving the state’s looming shortfall. Cowan is more open in acknowledging that with the depth of challenges facing the Legislature, including court-ordered education spending increases, increased revenue likely will be necessary because looking for efficiencies and reforms may not be enough. Baumgartner openly warns about tax increases if Democrats take control, but last year he broke with his own party and backed a failed effort that would have increased gas taxes as part of a transportation package that included enough money to complete the North Spokane Corridor.

The difference, Baumgartner said, is that if Democrats retake control of the state Senate, some of the first proposals to hit the floor will be tax increases, and Republican efforts to force efficiencies and spending reforms will be cast aside.

Cowan disputes it.

“I’m not a lackey to the West Side,” he said, “or to the governor.”