Public Periscope
Dark horse gallops onward
Robert Kroboth, a virtual unknown before he announced his bid for Spokane’s strong-mayor job, had a rough time of it at Friday’s debate before the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. … It started downhill early for the political novice when chamber President Rich Hadley introduced him as “John Korboth,” then went on to call him “Mr. Korboth.” Kroboth then left audience members puzzled when he responded to a question about the state’s Growth Management Act by saying, in part, “I know more about Portland. I saw a television program about it.” … Kroboth did make up some ground at the end, however, when he said he would not support any future public-private partnerships. “How many times do we have to get our fingers burned before we stop putting our fingers in the fire?” he asked. “I think primitive man learned faster.”
It looked better as a meth lab
Those who caught Republican gubernatorial candidate John Carlson’s news conference on meth labs might have wondered about the dilapidated home he used as a backdrop. The home at 1615 W. Providence was the site of a meth lab raided by a local drug task force in 1998, but it actually looked better in those days. … Owner Robert Olson, who was trying to evict a tenant when the raid went down, has stripped the inside walls and outside siding for an extensive remodeling. “It looks bad,” Olson acknowledged. “But I’ve got to follow the laws and deal with the city.” … After the home’s occupants were evicted, Olson had the house tested and it came up clean, but he decided to strip it rather than take any chances.
At his news conference, Carlson claimed there was a “50-50 chance” children were living in the home when it was a meth lab. Actually, no children lived there, Olson said, but the tenant’s grandchildren visited a few times. … Olson said he didn’t know Carlson had used the house as a backdrop but said he didn’t mind. Olson said he thinks Carlson’s proposal to add methamphetamine crimes to the state’s “three strikes” law is a good idea.
Coming to terms
U.S. Senate candidate Maria Cantwell might want to direct her staff to spend more time on the finer points of Spokane issues. Although she had a full agenda last Thursday for what may have been her last visit to Spokane before the Sept. 19 primary, it was the listing of her appearances that gave us cause to wonder. … Two of her morning events were listed as “meeting striking steelworkers.” As any Steelworker or spouse of Steel would be quick to tell you, the union is not on strike. It is locked out at Kaiser. Most Democrats know the difference.
Elections online
Voters and political junkies with access to the Internet can get Spokane County election information online.
County Auditor Vicky Dalton announced last week that precinct maps, polling place locations, election calendars, absentee-ballot timelines and other data are available.
Election night results also will be posted on the Election Department’s Web site.
“We are making huge improvements to our Web site so that the public will be able to access valuable information in a very simple and timely manner,” Dalton said.
The address is www.spokanecounty.org/elections.
Getting involved
Spokane County commissioners are trying to fill slots on several important boards by the end of the month. They have three openings on the Water Conservancy Board and one each on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Open Space Advisory Board and Community Services Substance Abuse Board. … Call (509) 477-2265 for an application, which must be submitted by Aug. 31.