House: District 3, Position 2

Thu., Oct. 29, 1998

By Tracy Ellig tracye@spokesman.com

A Republican party loyalist is attempting the nearly impossible feat of unseating a Democratic incumbent in the 3rd District for Position 2.

“I fully support the county and the state’s GOP platform,” said Republican Charlotte Karling. “I’ve yet to disagree with the leadership in the state House.”

Her opponent, one-term Democratic incumbent Jeff Gombosky isn’t as devote a follower of his party’s leadership.

He shrugged off Gov. Gary Locke’s pressure to vote for a second Seattle stadium. He supported a juvenile justice reform act that Democratic leaders opposed because “it addressed Spokane’s juvenile crime problem better than existing policy.”

While both candidates have many of the same goals for the 3rd District - expanding child care, making higher education more accessible, improving the economy - they differ on abortion and education.

“I am pro-life,” Karling said. “Therefore, I support I-694, which bans late term infanticide and would support legislation to allow parental notification when minors face such important and life-impacting decisions.”

Gombosky opposes the “government interfering in private health decisions.”

On education, Karling supports vouchers on the grounds that it gives parents more control over their childrens’ education. Gombosky supports charter schools, which would allow public schools to develop specialized curriculums.

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