House: 6Th District, Position 1

Thu., Oct. 29, 1998

By Jonathan Martin jonathanm@spokesman.com

Candidates for the 6th District House seat seem to have nothing in common.

The incumbent, Republican Brad Benson, 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.

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 $28,300 yearly legislator’s salary.

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

Nelson 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.”

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, got 3 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.

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