Public Periscope

And filing only opened this morning

Challenger Steve Tucker tossed the first brick in the county prosecutor’s race, accusing Jim Sweetser last week of using staff workers to get re-elected. Republican Tucker complained to the state Public Disclosure Commission that county workers, on county time, had distributed a campaign letter to staff in the prosecutor’s office … A two-page letter was mailed to Sweetser’s office by an outside campaign coordinator, but a mail person on the staff stuffed the 130 letters into office mailboxes. That’s a violation of campaign guidelines prohibiting department staff doing campaign work in their office, says Tucker … Sweetser replies that the amount of time devoted to the letter was minimal, and he didn’t decide to send it. “It was approved by my election committee.”

Tucker also is disturbed that Deputy Prosecutor Martin Muench is visiting other staff members in the office, asking them to volunteer on the Sweetser campaign. Workers might feel uncomfortable declining to lend a hand to the man at whose discretion they work, he says … Sweetser says he’ll discourage Muench. “I don’t even want the potential of making people feel we’re putting them in a” difficult situation.

What about all the others?

In a draft of the millennium celebration plan, Lilac Festival Director Brusan Wells meant to refer to preservation of historic landmarks when she mistakenly wrote “Save America’s Treasurers.” Calling it a “Freudian slip,” millennium celebration chairman Ron Hardin said the mistake also should be considered an ironic reminder: A Year 2000 celebration won’t be free. “So, too, must we save the money,” he said.

Fishing for votes

Summer recreating on newly restored Fish Lake near Cheney has gone from almost nothing to upward of 1,000 people on a sunny Saturday. In response, Phil Harris is asking fellow commissioners to hire someone to work at the park … Harris, who normally has no patience for people requesting positions outside budget time, saw the irony in his request. “I know it’s the wrong time of year to be asking for money,” he said last week … But not necessarily the wrong time to make such requests for a commissioner seeking re-election in a district that includes the West Plains.

Figures to ponder

Stats from Public Campaign, a group trying to reform the nation’s campaign financing laws: Percentage of Americans who make more than $100,000 - 5 percent. Percentage of major contributors to congressional campaigns (those who gave more than $200) who make more than $100,000 - 81 percent … Percentage of Americans who own stock, and can therefore benefit from the new change in the tax law cutting the length of time a capital gain must be held to qualify for the lowest rate - 40 percent. Percentage of Americans who make more than $100,000 and own stock and are likely to benefit from that change in the capital gains tax law - 84 percent … Cynical folks at Public Campaign see a connection between wealth, campaign contributions and the way laws are written.

Kudos

AIDS patient Joyce Claypool of Spokane was one of eight people lauded recently by Gov. Gary Locke who had worked to improve public health. Claypool, whose daughter died of AIDS, was cited for providing education on the disease to thousands of children and adults.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Through Friday: Want to run for Congress, the Legislature or a county office? This is the week to file as a candidate and pay the fee. Until 5 p.m. Friday, at the county courthouse or state Capitol.