Public Periscope

Looking down the road

This election isn’t over yet, but some politicians are thinking about the ones to come.

A state committee is studying whether to schedule Washington’s primary earlier than its current date of the third Tuesday in September by shifting it to August or maybe even June. … But state Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane, a member of the committee, thinks that’s a bad idea. “The people of Spokane aren’t beating down doors to change the date,” McCaslin said. But the state might want to consider requiring absentee ballots to be mailed earlier so they can be counted on election night, he said.

Looking even further down the road are U.S. Sens. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., who suggested last week we change the way we pick the president starting in 2004. Let’s have four regional presidential primaries, they said, on the first Tuesday of four successive months, rotating who gets to go first. … They proposed a similar bill in 1996 but got nowhere. The barrier this year may be the same: Senators from New Hampshire and Iowa - states which jealously guard their status for the first primary and caucuses - are likely to filibuster the idea to death.

It depends on perspective

When asked to appoint one person each to a citizens committee to recommend salaries for county elected officials, the Spokane County officeholders made some reasonable picks.

Two attorneys, two former judges, two corporate vice presidents, a former county auditor, a retired Washington State Patrol trooper and the owner of a business with more than $400 million in annual revenues. … So maybe it’s not surprising the group recommended higher salaries for elected officials, ranging from $94,000 a year for the prosecuting attorney to $72,000 for four courthouse executives. While retired cops aren’t exactly getting rich, it is worth noting that one retired VP reportedly draws a $191,000 annual salary. … Got to wonder what the committee would have recommended if it had included a couple of college students, motel maids or burger-flippers.

Commissioners will decide later this year whether to accept the recommendations, which represent huge increases in some cases. Commissioner Kate McCaslin already has said she’s skeptical everyone will get the recommended raises.

Does the incinerator even take that?

Politics is a rough sport - just ask candidates in the city elections - but it still was a little unsettling to see one item on the upcoming county commissioners’ schedule: “Dump bodies and related equipment.” … Before anyone calls detectives, the item refers to a bid-opening for dump-truck bodies.

Tell us how you really feel

U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt doesn’t think much of Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles’ recent contention that Northwest dams are a killing field for salmon. … The comments were “shocking” and “irresponsible,” according to a letter the Spokane Republican congressman sent to the Democratic executive to the north - and to reporters. Nethercutt said he read Knowles’ comments “with great dismay.” … No response yet from Knowles on how he feels about Nethercutt’s letter.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Tuesday: Election Day. Four statewide ballot measures, local offices and initiatives, even a pair of legislative races down in the Palouse. Vote between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. at your precinct polling place or by absentee ballot before the last mail pickup.