District 4 leans Republican

Voices at the Spokane Valley Senior Center swelled as the song leader cooed the first lines of “Ain’t She Sweet?”: “Just cast an eye in her direction. Oh me! Oh my! Ain’t that perfection?”

The crowd of regulars likely thought back to former sweethearts and old times as they sang along, but they might as well have been serenading their stomping ground, the Spokane Valley.

The Fourth Legislative District encompasses the Valley, Mount Spokane and Liberty and Newman lakes. It’s bordered by the Spokane County-Pend Oreille County border to the north, the Idaho state line to the east, Saltese Lake Road to the south and U.S. Highway 2 to the west.

The traditionally Republican stronghold is beloved by many residents, who enjoy a lifestyle that keeps one foot in the past.

“We don’t discuss politics, but my neighbors’ values are similar to mine,” said churchgoing Carol Hooper, 63, as she watched her grandsons swim at the YMCA.

District 4 is inhabited by aging farmers and retired Kaiser Aluminum employees. It’s home to small-business owners, teachers and young families. Within the district’s largest city, Spokane Valley, more people on average work in manufacturing, sales and construction than do state or countywide. Fewer work as professionals or as government employees, according to a 2003 Eastern Washington University study.

“Overall, it’s generally a conservative area,” said retired teacher Robert Jones, 70, also at the Y. “It started and still is a blue-collar community.”

Increasingly, though, housing developments are replacing the farmland that once defined the area. Professionals are building homes, putting their children in good schools, and then commuting to Spokane for work. Where apple trees and cantaloupe vines once proliferated, fast-food joints, discount department stores and supermarkets now stand.

The Fourth District hasn’t elected a Democratic legislator since the early 1990s. Republican Bob McCaslin is wrapping up his 24th year as a state senator, and Reps. Lynn Schindler and Larry Crouse, also Republicans, have served since 1998 and 1994, respectively.

But the district isn’t without its liberals.

“I’ve been a Democrat all my life, and I don’t know anything else,” said Foster Houser, 87, between turns at a billiards table in the senior center.

Houser is upset with President Bush’s policies in Iraq.

“We’ve lost boys who should be here with their families,” Houser said.

Across the hall from Houser, four women played bridge and said health care and living within their budgets were their biggest concerns.

Mary Cooper used to be a Republican “until, you know …” she said, referring to President Bush’s election.

“What do you mean used to be?” asked a surprised Janice Jones, 75, sitting next to her.

The group quickly changed the subject and got on with their bridge game.

Other issues that top Fourth District constituents’ concerns include keeping jobs in the state and keeping taxes down. A few people said they support Referendum 55, which would allow state funding for charter schools. Hooper, a Republican, wants schools to focus more on the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic.

George Orr, the last Democrat to represent the district in Olympia, said District 4’s lean to the right isn’t necessarily organic to the area. It follows a national trend, he said. Citizens are turning to conservative celebrities like Sean Hannity, who give straightforward, albeit shallow, solutions to problems, he said.

“People want a quick fix,” Orr said “It’s easy to bash. It’s hard to come up with a policy.”

Orr said the Fourth District has changed in the last 25 years. Since more people are living there and driving to work in Spokane, they have less time to attend school board and government meetings, he said. Orr hopes District 4 voters will take a deeper look at issues and candidates this fall.

“Politicians have continued to say that their goal is to save your tax money,” he said. “The reality is, government does stuff that no one else does. Government educates children. Government protects us from crooks and fires. It’s very labor intensive.”

Jerry Trunkenbolz, the father of an 8- and a 9-year-old, said he’s happy with the services he’s getting.

“We have good schools, a good library system, good facilities,” said Trunkenbolz, 53. “I think the Republicans are doing a very good job.”

Back at the senior center, the singing continued. The music switched from love songs to a patriotic medley. About two dozen citizens marched around the room to the tune of “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” each with one hand on the shoulder of the person ahead of them.