Campaign ‘99

Trick, then treat

This column generally does not relate the many complaints about vandalism to campaign signs. The reason is simple: The buildup to the general elections coincides with the approach of Halloween, and it’s hard to tell what is dirty campaigning and what is run-of-the-mill vandalism … But we do have a story about sign vandalism with a twist that’s worth sharing because of what happened after the signs came down. Several candidates apparently have received remorseful letters from yard-sign thieves, and even got some of their purloined signs back.

“I stole the signs and put them into someone’s yard,” a repentant sign snatcher wrote to Councilman Jeff Colliton in a letter that included a cashier’s check. “My intent was to pull a silly prank on someone. I now realize how much the signs cost you and how I slowed up your campaign” … Other candidates, too, got letters explaining some signs had been dropped at KHQ-TV, if the campaign wanted to reclaim them. Colliton was pleasantly surprised: “These kids will probably grow up to be great citizens. They have taken responsibility for their actions.”

Now a word to the wise

Even if, as the previous item indicates, there are a few remorseful thieves and vandals, this would not be a good night to tempt fate. If you’ve got a sign that shows your neighborhood where you stand on candidates and issues, and you want to keep it through Tuesday, better bring it inside tonight.

A new wrinkle in balloting

The official Spokane County sample ballot, which appeared in Saturday’s paper, has lots of interesting candidates and issues, and even a bit of typography that is unintentionally clever … At least we assume no one intended for the lines and letters for the town of Waverly to be wavy. But that’s the way it appears on page two of the ballot - Page A14 of Saturday’s paper … We shudder to think what the typesetting gremlins could have done if they decided to dress up the heading for the town of Spangle.

Still wondering how to vote?

It’s OK to be doing research still on a particular ballot measure or candidate race. Even if you already tossed out your voter guides, there’s time to get help … State voter guides, which explain the statewide initiatives, are available at many libraries, county and state buildings. City voter guides, which explain the Spokane ballot measures, are available at City Hall and many city libraries … Those with access to the Internet can get the Spokane guide off the city’s home page, www.spokanecity.org/ and - here comes the shameless plug - review this newspaper’s coverage on The Spokesman-Review’s Web site, www.spokane.net, by pointing and clicking on Election Central.

Or see them in person

There’s also one last chance to view the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum for city candidates and ballot measures. It’s on City Cable Channel 5 tonight at 5 p.m.

So much for trivia

There were no takers on last week’s trivia question, which was: Which current City Council candidate was campaign manager for Republican Jim West in his campaign for state representative … The answer was Steve Corker, which may surprise some who know Corker as the former county chairman for the Democrats … Historic campaign button goes to Erik Skaggs, who proposed the question. No whining that Skaggs had an inside track, being a former West staffer now active in groups that are supporting Corker.