Valleyfest Goes Political - With A Splash Valley Celebration Reserves Dunk Tank Seat For Candidates

At long last, political candidates have won the right to advertise at an annual neighborhood celebration in the Spokane Valley.

Trouble is, they’ll have to get wet to do it.

For $25, candidates can buy the right to sit in a dunk tank for a half-hour on Sept. 16, just three days before the primary.

“I’m a great-grandmother and I cannot remember how long it’s been since I’ve done something this undignified,” said a chuckling Mary Chay Austin, 56. Austin, a candidate for District 4 state representative, signed up for a half-hour slot.

The dunk tank will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Terrace View Park. All proceeds will benefit Valleyfest, which attracts more than 20,000 people.

The candidate who raises the most money - balls are three for $1 - is promised media exposure. That will be accomplished, said Valleyfest organizer Sue Delucchi, by a press release announcing the top money-raiser.

Since its inception in 1990, Valleyfest has been plagued with the problem of whether to allow candidates to advertise. Organizers have shot down the idea, saying they don’t want the festival to turn into a political forum.

Although elected officials are invited to walk in the festival’s parade, candidates and their supporters handing out political announcements have been asked to leave.

“It seemed like a good way to handle the candidate question,” Delucchi said. “It’s contained, it’s positive and it’ll be a good fund-raiser for Valleyfest.”

Only candidates in contested races that impact the Valley are invited to sit above the tank. They races include: county commissioner, District 4 state representative, Central Valley and East Valley school boards, and fire districts 1 and 8.

County commissioner candidate Chris Anderson quickly whisked off a fax to Delucchi saying, “Count me in … where do I sign up?”

Anderson added a jab against his opponents. “Will the others have the courage? We’ll see; of course it might require that they pull their noses out of the air long enough to have some fun.”

Other candidates were less enthusiastic.

“Why would I subject myself to that kind of abuse?” asked Art Meikel, a candidate for county commissioner. “I’ll warm up and go throw balls at the other candidates.”

“How cold’s it going to be?” asked George Marlton, the incumbent county commissioner. “Do you have any idea what the weather’s going to be like?”

By Wednesday afternoon, Marlton, Anderson, Chay Austin, state representative candidates Mark Sterk and Daniel Meckel and Central Valley School Board candidate Cheryl Knighton, had secured six of the 12 dunk tank spots.

While sitting above the tank, candidates will be allowed to advertise. Also, candidates with health problems can assign a substitute “dunkee,” but must be present during the half-hour. They can even try to sink their substitute.

“You mean we can let our wives do it?” asked Mike Davis, a county commissioner candidate.

, DataTimes