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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sterk Tries Again For Sheriff Job Democrats Seek Candidate As Second Goldman Run Unlikely

It’s 16 months until the 1998 general election, but the race for Spokane County sheriff is well under way.

Republican Mark Sterk, who on Wednesday formally launched his campaign for the seat that eluded him four years ago, has shored up support inside the department.

Meanwhile, incumbent Democrat John Goldman, who beat Sterk by 4,000 votes in the 1994 election, is not likely to seek a second term.

Goldman on Wednesday wouldn’t discuss next year’s election.

“I plan to focus on the department’s goals over the next 18 months,” he said. “I was elected to do a job, and that’s what I intend to do. I’m not intending to comment or engage in a conversation about the campaign of Mark Sterk or anyone else.”

But Democratic activists and senior officials in the Sheriff’s Department say Goldman has made it clear he won’t run again.

The sheriff has battled with county commissioners over budget issues during his first three years in office.

In April 1996, commissioners voted to freeze Goldman’s annual salary at $90,000 until the end of his term, then cut it by $20,000.

Democratic Party leaders are searching for a candidate to put up against Sterk.

Whoever decides to run on the Democratic ticket likely will face an uphill battle.

The county Corrections Officers Union has voted to back Sterk.

On Wednesday, the candidate announced his choices to fill senior staff positions within the department. All the people are high-ranking Sheriff’s Department employees.

“I didn’t want a lot of jockeying for the senior staff positions,” Sterk said.

Goldman complained that the move will lead to exactly that, promoting divisiveness and politicking in the department between now and the election.

“Yes, that has a detrimental effect,” he said. “That takes away from people focusing on the goals and objectives of the office. The unfortunate reality is the election for sheriff is a partisan, political race, with all the negative baggage that goes with politics.”

Sterk’s strategy makes it more difficult for Democratic leaders to find a suitable candidate.

Party chairman Ken Pelo said the Democrats want an experienced member of the department to run for the job, which has been held by a Democrat for more than 20 years.

“John hasn’t issued any formal statements that’s he’s not running,” Pelo said. “I would hope that John would be our candidate. If not, there are some people in the department who I’m sure might run.”

Pelo, who refused to be specific, said a couple of people are mulling it over, but he has no firm commitment from anyone.

Two names mentioned in Democratic circles are Tony Bamonte and sheriff’s Lt. Jim Finke.

Bamonte, a former sheriff in Pend Oreille County, lost to Goldman in the 1994 Democratic primary. Finke is supervisor of the graveyard shift.

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