Marr files for Spokane seat

Democrats and Republicans could be waging a high-stakes battle for the state Senate seat in Spokane’s 6th District.

Auto dealer and former Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chris Marr officially entered the Senate race Wednesday as a Democrat, vowing to “take on the big money special interests” but holding a sizeable amount of campaign cash of his own.

State Public Disclosure Commission reports show Marr has about $28,000 in contributions and $29,000 in pledges – promises by supporters to write a check in the near future.

Incumbent Brad Benson, who won the seat in 2004, finished his last campaign with $72,000 left over. Benson can’t raise any money until after the Legislature adjourns in March, but he raised more than $214,000 in just seven months to win a special primary and general election when former Sen. Jim West was elected Spokane mayor.

“I have no doubt that this will be one of the most expensive races in state history,” Marr told about 150 supporters at his campaign announcement at the Davenport Hotel. “My goal right now is to raise a significant amount of money in the next two months.”

Benson said Marr is probably right that the race will be expensive on both sides, and he won’t be worried if Marr raises more money than he does. He was outspent in the primary and the general election in 2004.

“Essentially, this is the swing district in Eastern Washington,” Benson said. “If the Democrats want to play in a Senate race, where else are they going to go?”

Marr has not yet received any money from political action committees or corporate donors and said he hoped to raise so much from individuals that he doesn’t need PAC money. But he refused to rule out taking it.

“You have to deal with the cards that are dealt you,” he said. “I don’t have to make that decision yet.”

With a résumé that includes serving as a Washington State University regent, a board member of Empire Health and a stint on the state Transportation Commission, Marr said he thinks he can appeal to Republicans and independents to win a seat that hasn’t been held by a Democrat in 60 years. He said he wanted to overcome “the politics of ‘no’ ” that has surrounded Spokane politics for decades.

“The naysayers told us we could never come together, that downtown could never be saved, that we could never build a convention center or pass a street bond issue,” Marr said.

He said he’d work to make sure Spokane gets its “fair share” in state spending.

“For years, politicians have made promises about doing things for Spokane. All we’ve gotten is empty rhetoric,” Marr said.

Benson, who is in Olympia for the session, said that despite his résumé, Marr was like other Democrats he’s faced in the past 10 years.

“I haven’t run against a Democrat yet who didn’t say they were a pro-business Democrat,” Benson said. Successful Democrats in Western Washington say the same thing, “then get over here (and) try to see how they can hurt business worse.”

Benson has filed his candidate registration forms but hasn’t formally announced a re-election campaign.

He defended his votes against such proposals as the increases in transportation taxes. Spokane pays more in taxes than it gets back in road projects, and the higher taxes increased the disparity.

“I think I represent my district well,” he said. “I think (the race) should be competitive, and that’s good for democracy.”