Reaction To Marlton, Crum Detracting From Real Issues

If Tuesday’s election had been Bloomsday, George Marlton would have been too late for Gatorade. Out of two Democrats, three Republicans and one independent in the Spokane County commissioner primary, he finished dead last.

Did his unguarded exhibition of sophomoric bathroom wit hurt? It sure didn’t help.

However, compare Marlton’s dubious humor (feigned masturbation while joking that a campaign aide had offered him oral sex) with that of Spokane City Manager Roger Crum.

While interviewing for the Ann Arbor, Mich., city manager job, Crum reportedly said he reacts to displeasing council decisions by going home and beating his wife. Domestic violence is too serious an issue for flip comments - this one may have cost Crum the job - yet did his insensitivity really (honestly, now) say much about his fitness for the job? And if not, how do we get back to making important public policy decisions based on things that matter?

Call for the questions, please

Speaking of elections, the pairings are set for the Nov. 7 showdown for City Council, School Board and county commissioner. When you talk about these raco<es around the kitchen table, what are the issues you wonder about?

Family ties stretched taut

Like a Spokane couple mentioned last week in “Bagpipes,” Georgia Gore of Spokane adopted children who since have been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.

The other couple, whose daughter is now 18, is suing the state, and “Bagpipes” asked if people expect children to come with warranties. Space prohibited printing Gore’s response Tuesday, so here it is:

“No, we never expected perfect children but we never bargained for the life we live now either,” she said, noting that medical expenses, counseling, schooling, attorney fees, court appearances and the like add up to about $500,000 per child.

“Who takes care of these children if something happens to us? Not family, not friends, no one, because at the early ages of 4 and 5 you have already exhausted them.

“Please educate yourself on FAS and don’t pass judgment until you walk in our shoes. Help us stay together as a family and if suing the state of Washington is the only answer for services then we have to do what it takes to be a family simply because there are no services for us.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.