Governor John Carlson, Gary Locke

John Carlson has never held public office.

But that doesn’t mean the Republican candidate for governor lacks a record for voters to examine.

Carlson, who is challenging Gov. Gary Locke, has worked on campaigns to lengthen prison terms, end affirmative action, limit state spending and reduce the cost of car-license tabs.

Locke, a Democrat, opposed many of those campaigns. During the final days of the car-tab initiative campaign, Locke promised that the Legislature would cut the cost of tabs moderately if voters would reject the initiative. Critics called it a desperation move. The initiative blew a $750 million a year hole in the state budget, setting off the biggest challenge of Locke’s tenure.

In a 1991 paper for the Washington Institute for Policy Studies, Carlson and his co-author called for massive reductions in the number of state employees (other than teachers) and limiting future pay increases to the inflation rate. They criticized the Department of Social and Health Services for wasting money and not doing enough to protect children, an attack Carlson has continued during his campaign for governor.

Most recently, Carlson has capitalized on a state study highlighting failures at DSHS. But his statement fails to mention that Locke called for the study, and that a Locke-appointed DSHS director is working to address the problems. Carlson correctly notes that earlier studies pointed to many of the same problems, and they weren’t solved during the first three years of the Locke administration.

Carlson charges Locke with a lack of leadership, saying the popularity of initiatives proves that citizens feel they must end-run the governor’s office.

Locke has repeatedly said he wants to be known as the education governor and has consistently made schools his top budget priority.

While Locke and legislative Republicans agree that the property tax is too high, they have not agreed exactly how to make cuts.

Republicans want reductions for all property owners; Locke wants them to apply only to homeowners.

Before Initiative 695 made tax hikes impossible without a vote of the public, Locke repeatedly called for raising the gas tax. The Legislature refused.

During his 1996 campaign, Locke promised to reduce the tax on businesses. As with the property tax, he and the Legislature have been unable to agree exactly how to do that.

During his term, Locke has vetoed bills to restrict abortion and forbid gay marriages. He says he supports some forms of gun control.

Carlson favors some restrictions on abortion and opposes gay-rights legislation. He opposes gun control.

Both candidates say they oppose breaching the Snake River dams.