As ballots continue to trickle in, a rural Eastern Washington legislative race has become a razor-thin contest between Mesa rancher Steve Hailey and Colfax farmer Joe Schmick.Late Thursday night, Hailey had 3,668 votes to Schmick’s 3,644, a lead of just 24 votes out of more…
After a liberal-backed group complained to the state's campaign finance watchdog that the conservative Building Industry Association of Washington (among others) were breaking campaign laws, the builders say there's nothing to complain about.So how'd they get that up-close video of a beaming, sign-holding, earnestly-conversing John…
But wait, there's more (the ad writer who coined that phrase has died, prompting this brilliant obituary lead) .Three years ago Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge was arrested for drunken driving and hit-and-run after her Mercedes side-swiped a parked pickup truck in Seattle and she…
If you're tracking the state Supreme Court races, keep hitting "refresh" on the state's campaign-finance website. In what was already a record-setting year for spending on high court races in Washington, nearly $600,000 has been spent by independent groups since Thursday. The most surprising development…
Speaking of political theater, the Service Employees' International Union and child care providers from across the state turned up at the governor's office this morning bearing hundreds of (new, unused) diapers."Time for a change" some of the diapers read. "Raise subsidy rates up from the…
Just months after the highly publicized failure of his Referendum 65 (which could have vetoed a new gay-rights law), Tim Eyman got more bad news Thursday.His Initiative 917, which would have undone new vehicle-weight fees and other transportation-related taxes, is dead in the water."It's over,"…
The list of independent PACs tossing money into races is growing, bringing a new crop of who-could-oppose-that names.Among the groups:-"Alliance for Responsible Leadership"-"Working Families Who Have Had Enough"-and "Citizens for Judicial Integrity"We'll post more as they register.
The Everett Herald's political reporter, Jerry Cornfield, has obtained the 1993 DUI arrest report for GOP Senate candidate Mike McGavick. McGavick's campaign had little to say in this morning's story in The Herald, but here's the document that it's based on. .
Today launches the 21-day pre-primary-election period during which independent expenditures -- typically ads done without the consent, coordination or control of a candidate -- must be reported within 24 hours.Since the candidates themselves are at arms-length to these ads, they're often the nastiest of an…
Gov. Chris Gregoire, who was appalled when the state pharmacy board earlier this year proposed allowing druggists, out of religious objections, to deny women morning-after birth control pills, has proposed an alternative.The board had proposed a so-called "refuse and refer" rule, allowing pharmacists to decline…
SurveyUSA, in poll sponsored by Seattle's KING TV, found that incumbent Justice Susan Owens is well in the lead in the five-way race for her seat. In a poll of 279 likely primary voters, the firm found 28 percent favoring Owens, while the four other…
Republican Senate candidate Mike McGavick has posted an "open letter" on his campaign website, apparently to pre-empt reporters or opposition researchers from seizing on past transgressions.It starts out:What’s wrong with politics today? The candidates and the incumbents spend their time attacking each other’s personal character…
Although cautioning that "three months of data (is) insufficient to draw conclusions," the state Department of Revenue says that sales by bars and taverns dipped during the first three months after the new state smoking ban took effect.Gross business income reported by taverns and bars…
Washington initiative pitchman Tim Eyman's sole surviving ballot measure may be on life-support at this point*, but his peers in other states have been busy this year. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 59 citizen initiatives are on state ballots across…
The business-backed Washington Policy Center, the same group that puts together Washingtonvotes.org, has issued a 300-page "Policy Guide" for the state. The recommendations -- on taxes, health care, energy, etc. -- will find a lot more favor with Republicans than with the Democrats who control…
Gerry Alexander, the 70-year-old chief justice of the state Supreme Court, happened to have the bad luck to schedule his campaign endorsement interview with Seattle newspaper The Stranger on the day after the high court -- including Alexander -- narrowly upheld the state ban on…
A closely-watched Senate primary 3,000 miles away has given a morale boost to Washington Greens.As Joe Lieberman last night conceded the Connecticut Democratic primary to anti-war challenger Ned Lamont, Seattle resident Aaron Dixon was sending out a press release warning that "Progressives are through with…
"It's a bees' nest. I didn't know it would be...There's PAC money involved, and allegations of skullduggery." ---Norman Ericson, a veteran administrative law judge in Olympia who picked this interesting year to throw his hat into a five-way race for a state Supreme Court seat.Want…
With two Johnsons (Charles and Jim) on the state supreme court already and two more (Mike and Stephen) running for justice this fall, we thought this might be a good time to scout future candidates for an all-Johnson high court.A quick check with the state…
Asked about the eleventh-hour state Supreme Court candidacy of Seattle attorney Michael Johnson, who on Thursday entered a race that hitherto featured only one Johnson -- former state Sen. Stephen Johnson -- Gov. Chris Gregoire had the following to say this morning. (Michael Johnson's filing…
A federal judge on Wednesday refused to stop the Air Force from kicking out a Spokane officer who is a lesbian, saying that the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for homosexuals “remains constitutional.”Major Margaret Witt, a flight nurse with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron…
In a blow to the hopes of gay and lesbian couples across the state -- and a victory for social conservatives -- the state Supreme Court has just upheld the state's Defense of Marriage Act, which bans same-sex marriage.
Sixteen months after hearing oral arguments in two same-sex marriage cases, the state Supreme Court will issue a ruling tomorrow morning. PDF files containing the rulings and any dissents will be posted on the court website at 8 a.m.The court website is: www.courts.wa.gov."The anticipation and…
Jeff West, Jim West's nephew, provided this statement from the family:The world and the city of Spokane have just lost a great man. Many people have told us he was the best Spokane mayor ever. He dedicated his life to community service and positively impacted…
Former Spokane Mayor and longtime state lawmaker Jim West is listed in critical condition at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. That's a downgrade from yesterday, when he was listed in serious condition. West is battling post-surgical complications from cancer treatment.Read our story…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
