Tonight's annual televised Chase Youth Commission debate will have a noticeably absent candidate: John Ahern.While Ahern has appeared with his opponent, incumbent Democratic State Rep. John Driscoll, at several other forums, Ahern also missed last month's debate sponsored by the League of Woman Voters of…
The Ferris High School debate team will host a debate Wednesday between incumbent Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr and his Republican opponent, Michael Baumgartner. The two candidates, who are fighting one of the most expensive state Legislative battles this year in Washington, hope to represent…
Spokane City Council members on Monday decided to give themselves new taxing authority.The council voted 5-2 to create a “Transportation Benefit District.” The decision means the council will have the ability to enact a vehicle tab tax up to $20. Higher tab taxes would require…
KHQ is reporting that Republican state Senate candidate Michael Baumgarter deleted questions to him from Facebook users during a KHQ Facebook interview last week.Mark Billings, executive assignment producer at KHQ, said the Baumgartner campaign admitted to deleting questions they felt were biased and likely written…
The ding dongs Michael Baumgartner will hear this weekend won't be from ringing the doorbells of potential voters.They will be wedding bells.(OK, that was dumbest lede ever, sorry.)Republican Michael Baumgartner will get a break this weekend from the state's costliest legislative race to get married.He…
Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr and his Republican opponent, Michael Baumgartner, debate funding for the North Spokane Corridor in the latest in a series of Spokesman-Review candidates videos.Both support the freeway's extension south of Francis Avenue but have different thoughts about paying for it. So…
The state Public Disclosure Commission plans to send a warning letter to the campaign of state Sen. Chris Marr for not mentioning his Democratic Party affiliation in a TV ad.Phil Stutzman, the PDC's director of compliance, said the commission decided not to open a formal…
A Spokane group of motorcyclists is fighting for attention among local politicians.The Inland Empire Chapter of ABATE, a motorcyclist rights organization that opposes helmet laws and other restrictions on motorcycle riding, has been hosting a series of candidate forums that are restricted to one topic:…
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich won party backing for his current reelection bid last year. Had he waited to seek an endorsement, Knezovich may not have won that endorsement. That's because, he says, he will not sign the party's pledge to support the county platform.…
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed defended the mail-in voting system in this Q & A that appeared in today's paper. The local GOP recently raised questions about the post office's handling of the ballots.We didn't have space for all our questions that asked when…
Here is the first of what should be several videos showing incumbent Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr and his challenger, Republican Michael Baumgartner, give their stance on the issues.Meanwhile, the videos produced before the primary focusing on the other hotly contested race in the 6th…
The campaign of state Sen. Chris Marr this week falsely accused his Republican opponent of withdrawing from a weekend candidate's forum "at the last minute."The candidate's forum was held on Saturday at the North Spokane library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road, and was sponsored by the…
The Spokane County Republican Party announced over the weekend that it was endorsing Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate, Cathy McMorris Rodgers for Congress and Al French for county commissioner. Those aren't surprising moves given the results of the August primary.But at least one GOP candidate…
The following is a corrected version of an earlier post.Noticeably absent from the ceremony on Tuesday that celebrated the start of construction of a portion of the North Spokane Corridor were any elected Republican officials.It was Spokane Mayor Mary Verner who served as master of…
It may be the upset of the year.In the race for Spokane County Treasurer, Bozo garnered more support than Jesus.Bozo – presumably Bozo the Clown – had three write-in votes, to Jesus’ two.Bozo and Jesus were just two of nearly 1,500 different people or other…
Shelly O’Quinn, a Republican who lost her bid in the highly contested battle for state House representing the 6th Legislative District, said Wednesday that she is not allowed to endorse any candidates in the general election because of her job.Incumbent Democratic state Rep. John Driscoll…
Former Republican state Rep. John Ahern said today that his former Republican opponent, Shelly O'Quinn, called him on Monday to congratulate him on his second-place finish.Ahern said he's grateful O'Quinn, who finished third, ran for the seat and that she made him a better candidate.O'Quinn…
In an e-mail to supporters on Friday, Spokane County commissioner candidate Steve Salvatori said a recount is likely in the primary battle for commissioner.But he added that he doesn't expect to be in the running."We made a valiant comeback effort on the Thursday ballot count,…
Lousie Chadez, who won about 20 percent of the vote in the four-way primary for the state House seat representing central Spokane, said this week she will endorse follow Democrat Andy Billig for the general election.Billig finished second and will face the likely winner of…
Sen. Patty Murray on Thursday stressed her support for programs in Eastern Washington and new financial regulations approved by Congress as she opened her general election campaign on Thursday with a stump speech in Spokane."I'm here to tell you Wall Street's and big bank's money…
This map of the Senate race between incumbent Democrat Chris Marr and Republican Michael Baumgartner indicates that voting went as usual in the 6th Legislative District. The Democrat won precincts closest to central Spokane; the Republican won Indian Trails, the far South Hill and areas…
Looks like Spokane County Treasurer Skip Chilberg may end up with a challenger in the general election after all.Real estate agent Rob Chase, who ran for Congress as a Libertarian in 2002, had 1.21 percent of the vote as a write-in candidate for treasurer after…
The top photo is Andy Billig's reaction to the announcement that he would advance to the general election.The next photo is Billig's response to finding out he will face Republican Dave White in the general election.It's hard to blame Billig for appearing to be more…
The Spokane City Council on Monday likely violated state law by meeting during an anthrax scare which closed City Hall to the public.Firefighters and police were called to City Hall just prior to the council meeting’s scheduled 3:30 p.m. start after an employee found white…
The Democratic Party's decision to endorse Andy Billig has made state House candidate Louise Chadez -- despite her longtime affiliation with Democrats -- feel somewhat of an outcast in the party.At the party's recent salmon feed, Chadez said, she and other Democrats who didn't win…
