Campaign ‘99
Candidate Q and A
Spokane City Council candidates were asked: “Do you support or oppose the city ballot measure commonly known as the Lincoln Street bridge initiative?”
If passed, the initiative would require voter approval of any new bridge for vehicles over the Spokane River in downtown Spokane.
Position 1
Roberta Greene: Oppose. “I don’t think it applies to the Lincoln Street bridge at this time, because that project, to me, is on the shelf. I don’t think we need to have a public vote on whether or not to do a capital project like a bridge.”
David Bray: Support. “I think the people have a right to be involved in the process involving the preservation of the Spokane Falls.”
Position 2
Al French: Support. “How we prioritize the assets that are instrumental to the community should be representative of what people think. Putting a bridge on the ballot is the right thing to do.”
Steve Corker: Support. “Because of the controversy - both over the aesthetics and the need for the bridge - it needs a vote. The $40 million cost justifies the right of the people to vote.”
Position 3
Steve Eugster: Support. “I don’t believe that the Lincoln Street bridge should be built, or that we need any more bridges across the river in downtown Spokane. The river is the treasure of our community. I believe that the initiative is valid.”
Jeff Colliton: Oppose. “The jury is still out on whether that initiative will affect the Lincoln Street bridge. I don’t think we are going to build the Lincoln Street bridge, but that is a different issue. We will deal with the initiative whenever any future bridges are built.”
Getting out the vote
Despite the gloomy projections, turnout in the city of Spokane in the primary election was not bad, hitting 31 percent. That number is among the data available in the official election summary released Friday. … Yes, that means that less than one voter in three cast a ballot. But put it in perspective: the average turnout is usually around 25 percent. And while countywide turnout was down at 23 percent, it’s important to remember that outside the city, the ballot was pretty meager.
Deadline looming
If you missed the primary election because you weren’t registered to vote, and vowed to do better next time, here’s a tip. You’ve got a week to register if you want to go to the polls Nov. 2…. Saturday is the deadline to register to vote in the traditional way. Any registrar will do, and you can find them at most schools, libraries, fire stations and state offices…. Oct. 18 is the deadline to register if you want to take the time to go to the elections office in the County Courthouse, and cast an absentee ballot.
Campaign Trivia
Alas, no one came up with the correct answer to last week’s question, which was: Supporters of which Washington state candidate sported buttons that said “Hi! I’m a Big Labor boss”? … Longtime Democratic activist Cherie Moore came close, with her guess of congressional candidate Judy Olsen. While her supporters did sport those buttons briefly, they were really a holdover from another campaign and Olsen is technically a federal candidate, not a state candidate. … The correct answer was 1984 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Booth Gardner. His supporters pinned on the buttons after the state GOP launched a clumsy campaign to label Weyerhaueser heir Gardner a tool of “big labor bosses.”
We get to keep the historic button, and will shift gears in the contest. This week’s competition will be to find the most ancient yard sign for a past candidate or ballot issue that’s still standing somewhere in Spokane County. Send the name of the candidate or issue on the sign, and the location to the numbers below. And no, we won’t count the Phil Harris for County Commissioner billboard across from the Spokane School District headquarters.