Mary ‘Chey’ Austin Democrat

Personal: Age 56 … born in Wisconsin … lived in Spokane area off and on over the past 50 years … also has lived in Florida, California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Montana … works in the blood bank at Sacred Heart Medical Center … married, six children, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Education: Attended the University of Montana in Missoula for one quarter in 1984. Claims to have attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., although that school has no record of her being a student there.

Finances: Raised $6,256 as of Oct. 17 … Major donors include local Democratic organizations, $1,250; $500 each from the United Steelworkers and the Washington State Labor Council; $300 from the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers; $250 from the Washington State Council of Carpenters.

Issues: Believes education is the key to curbing crime and would support anger management classes being taught in public schools … would like to see the creation of vocationaltechnical high schools for children who don’t plan to go to college … supports harsher penalties for juvenile offenders.

, DataTimes