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Judge declares Roskelley can run
Former Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley on Thursday beat back a challenge to his candidacy to reclaim his old office. Visiting Superior Court Judge Allen C. Nielson ruled that Roskelley, a Democrat, is qualified to run in the District 1 commissioner race against incumbent Republican Todd Mielke.
Inslee, McKenna square off at Bing
The two leading candidates for Washington governor debated for the first time on Tuesday and agreed that new taxes aren’t needed to improve schools. But they disagreed on most other points, including education, in the hourlong debate at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane.
Attorney general candidates debate
Two candidates for state attorney general agreed on a few things in their first debate. Both support same-sex marriage. Both oppose legalizing marijuana for recreational use but support it for medical use. Both would press the federal government to keep to the schedule of cleaning up the waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
Forgeries suspected among R-74 signatures
OLYMPIA – Some 1,000 signatures submitted to put the same-sex marriage law on the November ballot are suspected forgeries, state officials said Monday. State elections workers checking petitions for Referendum 74 flagged a total of 51 sheets where the signatures looked similar. Checking the signatures on the petitions with the signatures the state has on file for all voters produced 1,001 signatures that don’t match the official records.
Spin Control: Both sides fuel up for critical Spokane debate
Spokane will be in the political limelight Tuesday as Washington’s first gubernatorial debate of the season takes the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater. The Association of Washington Business and Greater Spokane Incorporated are co-hosting the premier head-to-head between Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee at 3:30 p.m., the second debate on a two-event card. Two guys who want McKenna’s current job of state attorney general, Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat Bob Ferguson, are the warm-up debate at 2 p.m.
Conservative precincts added into Democratic stronghold
For 20 years, Francis Avenue has been the northernmost boundary of Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District, marking the dividing line between the reliably Republican 6th District and the strongly Democratic 3rd. That’s basically still true for north Spokane voters as they prepare for the Aug. 7 primary in new districts drawn after the 2010 census. With one exception.
Delegate picks support Romney
TACOMA – Washington Republicans gave Mitt Romney a boost Saturday, just two days before he’s expected in the state for a fundraising visit. Romney supporters at the state convention captured all the delegates and alternates to the national convention up for election, naming several prominent politicians and longtime party members to those spots.
GOP activist targeting tribal sovereignty again
Is the Washington state Republican Party taking another misguided run at tribal sovereignty? They are, if Bob Eberle and his fellow Skagit County Republicans have anything to say about it.