Public Periscope
With friends like these
The County Commissioner District 2 race took a bizarre turn Friday when local photographer Don Hamilton threatened to release videotapes he says embarrass candidate Bill Burke. What’s really bizarre is that these tapes show Burke speaking at a public forum the previous night … Hamilton attended and taped the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce forum on Thursday, then told KGA radio’s Rick Miller on Friday that he called two of Burke’s friends to encourage them to ask Burke to withdraw or he would release the tapes … Just who would get the tapes wasn’t exactly clear, but he did say he already sent a tape to KXLY-TV.
Hamilton, who supports Republican Kate McCaslin in the race, described the tapes as showing a “meltdown” by Burke. “My goal was to warn Bill off of this,” said Hamilton, who described himself as Burke’s friend but thought his pal was going to be humiliated in the election … Burke said later he stands by his comments at the forum and called Hamilton’s threats shameful: “I will not be bullied and I will not be blackmailed. I knew politics was ugly. I just didn’t know how ugly.”
Pamphlet could have used an auditor or editor
Shortly after the City Voters Pamphlet began hitting mailboxes last week, city officials announced they had a pair of corrections. One involves the statement from Mayor John Talbott, who writes the city has “appointed an independent auditor who will make certain we never slide into the mess that was at City Hall when I arrived” … Actually, the city has not yet filled the auditor’s job, and City Public Affairs Officer Marlene Feist says the statement should say the city “has approved the creation of an independent auditor’s position.” But don’t blame Feist. As the pamphlet clearly says on the bottom, the statements were unedited and printed as submitted by the candidates.
The other correction is a little more technical. On page 11, there are two paragraphs that are underlined in the amendment that would make the city charter gender neutral, which means they are changes to current law … Ignore those lines. That’s actually the existing language.
The deadline looms
Bad news, but here goes: Second-half Spokane County property taxes are due by the end of the month. To be on time, they must be mailed with a postmark no later than Oct. 31, Treasurer Linda Wolverton said … Taxpayers should use the post office to mail their payments, she added, because state law says that’s the only cancellation date that can be used to determine if the payment is on time … It’s also possible to pay with a major credit cards by calling 1-800-2paytax, or online at www.8882paytax.com. Use jurisdiction code 5606, and remember, there is a fee to use these services.
And yes, you do mail your payment to a Seattle address. Spokane County’s tax tabulation machine wasn’t Y2K compliant, so Wolverton had to get outside help with collection this year.
Catch the candidates
Some forums and debates for your campaign pleasure:
Tuesday: County commissioner and City Council president candidates debating at the African American Forum. 5 p.m., Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley, free.
Wednesday: Mayoral candidates John Talbott and John Powers, at a forum hosted by St. John’s Cathedral. 7 p.m., 127 W. 12th, no charge.
Thursday: Congressional candidates George Nethercutt and Tom Keefe, at the Rotary 21/Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce debate. Noon, call 534-8998 for reservations.
Friday: County commissioner, City Council president and Spokane area legislative candidates at the NAACP candidate forum. 7 p.m., East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone, free.