Differences Profound In Race For 6Th Benson, Nelson, Luciani Seek State House Seat

The only thing candidates for the 6th District Position 1 House seat seem to share is a hometown.

Incumbent Republican Brad Benson is a conservative economics instructor who cites excessive government regulation as a reason he was forced to close an ice cream shop last year.

His Democratic challenger, Bernie Nelson, spent 40 years working for the state’s biggest agency before retiring in May.

Take the issue of aid to the poor. Benson criticizes some welfare programs - such as medical coverage for children - as so generous even his family qualifies.

“I don’t consider myself needy,” said Benson, who supports a family of six on his $28,000 yearly legislator’s salary.

Lower the threshold for assistance, he says. He also opposes a minimum wage hike as bad economics.

Nelson supports cutting ineffective social programs, saying “After 40 years, I know what works and doesn’t.”

He supports expanded health coverage, increasing the minimum wage and giving welfare families more job training.

“Brad is far more conservative than I in what people can do and can’t do,” said Nelson. “I’m not a liberal on this issue, but people need a lot of support.”

There’s little common ground between the two.

Nelson is 70; Benson is 39. Benson is pro-life, Nelson pro-choice. Benson opposes the Kalispel Tribe’s casino in Airway Heights, Nelson supports it.

The race has become heated since the primary, when Benson took 59 percent of the vote and Nelson 38 percent.

Kerry Luciani, a Reform Party candidate, took three percent. The Group Health Northwest financial analyst ran for the Legislature two years ago as a Democrat. He’s campaigning on creation of a north-south freeway for Spokane.

In a letter sent to Spokane School District teachers this month, Nelson blasted Benson for accepting donations from tobacco companies.

Phillip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and the Tobacco Institute have given a combined $1,050 to Benson, much of it last month. The state is suing all three for health care costs - up to $2.2 billion - related to treating smoking.

“How can my opponent claim to be pro-family and accept money from corporations that target cigarette ads to children?” demands Nelson, whose father died of lung cancer.

Benson says his vote last year to outlaw teenage smoking shows his commitment to “protect family values.”

“I will do everything I can to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors, but adults smoking is a choice.”

Nelson says big corporate donations do affect a legislator’s vote, and pledges to return any contribution from a political action committee.

He also promises to donate his legislator’s salary to charity if elected.

“I don’t think Brad has ever seen a bad insurance dollar,” said Nelson, citing donations from insurance companies to Benson’s campaign. The donations, Nelson says, create the appearance of companies buying Benson’s vote.

Nelson’s campaign fund is $4,800, including $2,000 of his own money. The Democratic Party, which gave heavily to Benson’s opponent in 1996, hasn’t donated to Nelson’s campaign.

Despite holding a campaign fund of nearly $45,000, Benson says he doesn’t plan to advertise on TV or radio.

He said he doesn’t consider Nelson a serious threat in the general election.

Graphic: Where they stand …

See individual profiles by name of candidate.

This sidebar appeared with the story: WHERE THEY STAND … The issues Here are the positions on selected issues of the three candidates for Washington’s Sixth Legislative District, House seat No. 1.

BRAD BENSON, REPUBLICAN

BIGGEST ISSUE: Budgeting for ‘99-00. Proud of current budget for tax relief, building reserve and being smallest increase in 25 years. REGIONAL ADVOCATE: Legislators should advocate for own region, but Puget Sound has majority of population. Favors tax breaks to keep money home. Also favors expanding Convention Center, Cheney Cowles Museum and Riverpoint campus. GAMBLING: Don’t expand house banking. Dislikes Airway Heights casino because Spokane has little control over gambling but will pay for social costs. BUDGET: Spend less on departments of Corrections and Social and Health Services juvenile rehabilitation division. Doesn’t see enough return on expensive programs. Spend more to reward exceptional schoolteachers. TRANSPORTATION: Supports Referendum 49 because it will give $30 break on tabs and give Spokane additional $900,000 for local roads without tax increase. EDUCATION: Refocus on academics, ensure safe and disciplined classrooms, reward outstanding teachers, and increasing parental involvement. FIELD BURNING: Doesn’t support existing ban. Fears impact on Spokane economy and job loss. “I can only support reasonable limits that measurably improve air quality while allowing the growers to stay in business.” CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: Supports tougher laws to deter crime, hasn’t seen prison population growth predicted from tougher laws already enacted. Supports contracting with out-of-state prisons and/or use the second bed in existing cells.

KERRY LUCIANI, REFORM

BIGGEST ISSUE: Infrastructure is most important issue for Spokane. Also convention center expansion, economic development. REGIONAL ADVOCATE: West Side gets more, but has more population. More should be spent on East Side transportation, including either North-South Freeway or beltway. East Side legislators should form coalition to boost clout. GAMBLING: Favors state oversight of non-tribal casinos to limit expansion. BUDGET: Supports strict oversight to eliminate waste, such as excessive cost of highway construction. TRANSPORTATION: Opposes Referendum 49 because it would puts state too far in debt. Supports reduction of vehicle licensing payment. EDUCATION: Supports limited introduction of charter schools and lowering class sizes. Supports increased funding of two-year colleges for job training programs. FIELD BURNING: Support blue grass burning ban, but in a schedule that allows farmers to adapt. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: Decrease teenage crime through prevention programs. Don’t spend more on prison construction. Relieve crowded prisons by releasing three-strike offenders after age 65, deporting illegal alien prisoners and better preparing prisoners for release.

BERNIE NELSON, DEMOCRAT

BIGGEST ISSUE: Education. Supports efforts to raise academic standards, create new tests and hold schools accountable for results. REGIONAL ADVOCATE: West Side population disparity keeps East Side from getting fair share. Pledges to build East Side coalition to win funding for economic development projects. GAMBLING: Supports Indian casinos for economic benefit to tribes. Doesn’t support expansion of non-Indian gaming, calling it “regressive tax” on poor. BUDGET: Supports finding and cutting inefficient government programs. Spend more on education, community safety and health care for children and elderly. TRANSPORTATION: Opposes Referendum 49 as “quick fix” that will divert money from education and services for children. EDUCATION: Supports accountability reforms, school-to-career programs, raises for community college part-time instructors and increased child-care subsidies. Opposes public vouchers for private schools. FIELD BURNING: Supports current burning ban and further restrictions to improve air quality. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: Supports alternatives to building prisons, including sex offender treatment program at Airway Heights. Wants more consistency in sentencing laws.