Election Center
Related Coverage, Page 22
Editorial: Sanders’ zeal for justice outshines his vexing ways
Let’s state up front that Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders is exasperating, which is why the race for Position 6 on the Washington state Supreme Court is so interesting. If he were vying for an ethics position, he would be a questionable candidate. He was officially admonished in 2005 for touring the McNeil Island facility for sexual predators when some of the inmates had open cases. He failed to disclose his personal interest in a public records case, which caused the Supreme Court to withdraw an important ruling. Long ago, he showed up at an anti-abortion rally.
Editorial: Johnson has earned second term on high court
When Justice Charles Smith stepped down from the Washington state Supreme Court six years ago, Jim Johnson ran for the job largely to bring balance to the court, he says. That’s the same reason Tacoma attorney Stan Rumbaugh now gives for challenging Johnson in his first bid for re-election.
Mager faces 4 GOP challengers
As the only Democrat and the only woman, Bonnie Mager stands out among the candidates for her Spokane County commissioner position. Standing apart could help her survive next month’s primary election if Republicans split their votes among Steve Salvatori, Al French, Jeff Holy and David Elton. But in Washington’s top-two primary system, being the only Democrat no longer guarantees a ticket to the Nov. 2 general election.
Spokane County commissioner candidates, issues
Candidate Q&A
Spokane County assessor candidates, issues
Ralph Baker Personal: 57. 18-year resident. Married. No children.
County assessor’s race has 6 candidates
Spokane County Assessor Ralph Baker has more challengers than a bear has fleas – and he picked up one of them, appraiser Vicki Horton, in his own den. The den used to belong to another of Baker’s five opponents, former Assessor Sadie Charlene Cooney.
Chris Bugbee: I’ll retire as prosecutor
Chris Bugbee: I’ll retire as prosecutor
Four seek to unseat prosecutor
When defense attorney Chris Bugbee addressed a room full of Republicans in June, he told them that he not only intends to defeat incumbent Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker, Bugbee said he intends to retire from the office. The bold prediction not only illustrates Bugbee’s quick emergence as a front-runner but how contentious the primary contest has become.
Spokane County prosecutor candidates, issues
To allow readers to compare and contrast the five candidates for Spokane County prosecutor, The Spokesman-Review asked the candidates the same three questions.
6th Legislative District candidates, issues
John E. Ahern Personal: 75. Republican. Married. Has three grown children.
Newcomer battles familiar faces in 6th
Two years ago John Driscoll beat four-term incumbent state Rep. John Ahern by only 72 votes. This year, the two face off again in the August primary, along with political newcomer Shelly O’Quinn in a three-way primary that has been one of the most contentious for local Republicans.
Knezovich’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
Knezovich’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
Sheriff’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
A testament to the popularity of Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich may be the level to which candidates for Spokane County prosecutor are seeking his support. The situation came to a head last week when incumbent Steve Tucker announced during a debate that he had the support of Knezovich. Asked to clarify that support, Tucker made it clear that the sheriff has not endorsed his candidacy.
Political newcomers hope to oust Ormsby
Two newcomers to politics say it’s time for a change in the state House seat held by veteran Democrat Timm Ormsby. But Ormsby, who has held the 3rd District position since 2003, points to his experience and says having spent most of his life in Spokane, he’s intimately knowledgeable of how the state can assist what is often labeled Washington’s poorest legislative district.
3rd Legislative District (position 2) candidates, issues
Hector E. Martinet Personal: 46, no party preference. Born in California. Moved to Spokane in 1990. Divorced. Has three grown children.
Childhood learning tax qualifies for ballot
A property tax to raise money for early childhood learning, abuse prevention, treatment and other programs to help lower the dropout rate will likely be on the ballot in November.
3rd Legislative District (Position 1) candidates, issues
Personal: 54, Democrat. Born in Spokane. Single. No children. Education: Graduated from Ferris High School in 1975.
Retirement creates opportunity in 3rd
Speculation that Rep. Alex Wood might retire after more than a decade representing central Spokane in the state House of Representatives sparked vast interest in the seat among Democrats. After all, the 3rd Legislative District is Eastern Washington’s most reliably Democratic district.
5th Congressional District candidates, issues
To allow readers to compare and contrast the congressional candidates for Eastern Washington’s 5th District on several issues, The Spokesman-Review asked all six the same five questions: • What changes, if any, would you support for the health care reform that passed this year?
Democrats have tough task in 5th Congressional District
Consider the plight of the Democrats trying to take back Eastern Washington’s congressional seat, a spot they once held for 30 years. Until a few days before filing week opened June 7, they had no announced candidate and no hope of wresting the seat from three-term Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a former state legislator who advanced rapidly into GOP leadership circles within the U.S. House of Representatives.