Lowry Takes Stand

Gov. Mike Lowry says he won’t attend opening ceremonies Thursday at the new Emerald Downs thoroughbred racetrack if it means crossing a union picket line.

Lowry, who takes great pride in the work he did to get a new track built in Western Washington, has an invitation from Emerald Downs owner Ron Crockett to attend opening day.

But Crockett is embroiled in a dispute with local unions, who say they will boycott the track if he does not use union labor.

Lowry, a labor booster, said he would follow his longtime practice and not cross a picket line should there be one.