Sterk Holds Hefty Lead In Race To Complete District 4 Term

Wed., Nov. 8, 1995

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

Mark Sterk’s tough talk on crime and taxes is apparently what voters in Washington’s 4th Legislative District wanted to hear.

The 44-year-old Republican appeared headed to victory Tuesday night over Democrat Mary “Chey” Austin in the race to serve out the remaining year of Mike Padden’s term in the state House of Representatives.

Early returns showed Sterk leading by more than a 2-1 margin.

“That’s more than we’d hoped for,” Sterk said at his campaign headquarters in the Spokane Valley as about 35 supporters nibbled catered barbecued ribs and cheered when television reports showed their candidate on top.

Padden resigned the District 4 seat earlier this year after being appointed a District Court judge in Spokane.

County commissioners chose Sterk, a Spokane City Police sergeant, as a temporary replacement in District 4, which covers most of the Spokane Valley and part of Hillyard.

Now he’ll have the job until at least next November, when the seat is up for grabs again.

Sterk said Tuesday night that his apparent victory not only validated his platform but proved that the Republican surge in last year’s state elections was no fluke.

Republicans gained a majority in the House and came to within one seat of taking control of the state Senate.

“I think it shows that people thought what we did during the last session was what they wanted,” said Sterk, who seemed confident as he chatted with supporters.

During the campaign, Sterk called for harsher penalties for convicted criminals and cutting taxes and regulations - a safe platform in the historically conservative 4th District.

The 56-year-old Austin wanted to spend more money on education, arguing that better-educated children were less likely to become involved in crime.

, DataTimes

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