Campaign Notebook

Sun., Aug. 29, 1999

Compiled By Jim Camden From Staf

His number wasn’t up Roosevelt “Brother” Thomas, a candidate for Spokane City Council Position 3, has been hard for the sponsors of candidate forums and debates to contact, and he concedes it’s his fault. When he filled out his candidacy petition by hand last month, he wrote in a phone number that was misread by officials at the Spokane County Elections Office … Roosevelt Thomas’ real phone number is 624-2362, although one of those 2s was misread as a 7, and it went out wrong on the official list of candidates … So forum organizers who have tried unsuccessfully to contact Thomas might want to try again at the new number.

Campaign trivia

We have a winner to last week’s Trivia Question, what was the last costumed mascot in a political campaign in Spokane before the Term Limits weasel? The answer: See ‘um, the collie-costumed mascot for the bond issue for a new Coliseum in 1985. … Don’t get it? Collie, See’um. Collie-See’um. Coliseum. Hey, don’t blame us. We don’t make ‘em up, we just report ‘em … Winner of the contest was Evelyn Gutschmidt, who, in fact did make it up, as a member of that campaign. She received a historic campaign button of her choice, which was a Tom Foley re-election button (we’re not sure which election, they didn’t change for about 20 years.)

Now for this week’s trivia. What campaign sported buttons that declared “We made history” after it won? First person to call, fax or e-mail to the numbers below wins a historic button. Although this time, key staffers with the campaign in question are welcome to enter for bragging rights, but are not eligible for the prize.

Deadline watch

As promised, The Spokesman-Review is keeping closer watch on candidates to see whether they file their campaign spending reports on the deadlines set by state law. The good news is 14 of the 18 City Council candidates met last Tuesday’s deadline to send their summaries of contributions and expenses to the elections office … The bad news is that as of late Friday, four apparently did not: Al French, Maury Nollette, Gail Howard and Roosevelt Thomas. We say apparently because reports sometimes get mailed on the deadline and don’t show up at the courthouse for several days … Other times, candidates just plain miss the deadline.

Catch the candidates

Tuesday: Spokane city candidates and bond issues, sponsored by Community Centers of Spokane. 6 p.m., Northeast Community Center.

Wednesday: Luncheon debate on I-695, the $30 license tab proposal, featuring sponsor Tim Eymann and opponent Mike Lowry, former governor, sponsored by the Spokane Symposium. Spokane Valley Doubletree, $15 for lunch, call Ann Glynn at 835-2244 by Monday for reservations.

Wednesday: Debate on I-695, featuring Eymann and Ken Dunham of the opposition campaign, sponsored by Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. 4 p.m., Lair Student Center, SCC, 1810 N. Greene St.

Wednesday: Spokane city, school board and 9th District legislative candidates at a forum sponsored by Soroptimist International of Spokane. 7 p.m., Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third.

Thursday: Rep. George Nethercutt, GOP candidates for Ninth District legislative seats, at the Ponderosa Republican Women’s Club luncheon, Spokane Inn at the Park. 11:30 a.m., $10 for lunch, reservations at 255-9103.

Thursday: Spokane City Council candidates, on “Access Spokane,” cable talk show hosted by Mayor John Talbott. 6:30 p.m., TCI Cable Channel 14.

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