Governor
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Two vie in race for Kootenai prosecutor
When elected in 2008, Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh took over an office with a public black eye suffered after two sexually charged email scandals, internal strife, allegations of sexual harassment and criticism of local judges. McHugh ran unopposed in 2008 to replace retiring county Prosecutor Bill Douglas, who had held the office since 1989. During the past three years in office, McHugh said he has improved staff morale, the public and courts’ respect for the office and the quality of trial work.
Spin Control: Video exchange puts McKenna on hot seat
OLYMPIA – Candidates should act as though cameras are everywhere, because most likely they are. That’s the lesson of a 30-second exchange between Rob McKenna, the state attorney general who is running for governor, and a young woman on a Seattle sidewalk that went from pointed conversation to YouTube video overnight and resuscitated an issue Republicans were probably glad to have killed during the legislative session.
Spin Control: ‘I’m not politicizing, my opponent is’
OLYMPIA – A week after the Legislature’s overtime session wrapped up, Democrats accused GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna of delaying the final compromise by politicizing the process. Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, joined members of Democratic governor candidate Jay Inslee’s staff to accuse McKenna of using the budget stalemate “for political purposes” to push reform proposals.
Republicans vying for Ahern’s seat
A pair of Republicans will compete against a former Democratic legislator for a newly open seat in the state House in Spokane’s 6th Legislative District. Larry Keller, the superintendent of the Cheney School District, and Spokane attorney Jeff Holy will try to keep Rep. John Ahern’s seat in Republican hands, while Dennis Dellwo will try to return to the Legislature after a 16-year absence, and in a new district.
McMorris Rodgers could balance Republican ticket
Being mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate is something like being nominated for an Oscar or an Emmy: One should sound flattered, but not too confident of being the ultimate selection. So it’s not surprising that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, an Eastern Washington Republican serving her fourth term, deflects questions about the frequent mentions in the political columns and blogs that she might be Mitt Romney’s running mate.
Democratic caucuses cover issues large, small
With the hotly contested race for the Republican presidential nomination dominating headlines for months, Washington voters might assume there’s nothing for Democrats to do this spring. They’d be wrong.
Replacing Inslee temporarily may cost $1 million
OLYMPIA — The special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee may end up costing Washington $1 million.
Spokane to host Inslee, McKenna for governor debate
The likely Republican and Democratic candidates for governor will debate this June in Spokane. An on-again, off-again matchup of state Attorney General Rob McKenna and former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee in front of a major state business group appears on again, for good. The Association of Washington Business announced, and the campaigns confirmed, Inslee and McKenna will debate at the Bing Crosby Theater on June 12 as part of the group’s quarterly meeting, in an event co-sponsored by Greater Spokane Incorporated. As recently as Monday, the Inslee campaign was refusing to debate at that particular time and place, accusing the AWB of bad faith in announcing the event before all details were worked out.
Protesters object to state’s role in case
OLYMPIA – As the U.S. Supreme Court questioned lawyers about the constitutionality of making Americans buy health insurance Tuesday, a liberal group that supports the rule protested outside the offices of a business group and a state official who oppose it. About 100 demonstrators, including several who drove across the state from Spokane, demonstrated outside the Washington office of the National Federation of Independent Business, then marched through downtown Olympia to the office of Attorney General Rob McKenna.