Sometimes a politician’s best move isn’t political
If an event is planned and executed by a campaign staff and their candidate is present, is it, de facto, a campaign event?
Not necessarily. The congressional campaign for Peter Goldmark proved that Tuesday night, when it hosted a dinner for the homeless in honor of Doug Dawson, a homeless, wheelchair-bound amputee who died Monday night after being lit on fire near the Democratic campaign office last week.
Goldmark and his wife Wendy were dishing up salads in the chow line, and the campaign staff was busy handing out food, making runs to the supermarket for more supplies and picking up trash.
There were no campaign signs on display, and Goldmark didn’t make a speech. A eulogy and prayer were given by Nick Block, a Quaker clergyman, and talk of politics was largely absent except when news reporters mentioned the sponsors in their stand-ups.
Rather than working for votes, the campaign workers seemed to be exorcising their grief after experiencing a gruesome death close at hand.
Dawson’s life may be one that defies a government solution. When he was initially found after being set on fire – allegedly by two transients arrested for a separate robbery nearby – Goldmark said it was a sign Spokane needed better care for veterans and better care for the homeless.
But contrary to some early reports, Dawson was not a veteran. He lost part of his leg in a car accident. For decades he’d been actively refusing programs for the homeless and his chronic alcoholism, which was the underlying cause of his homelessness. People who knew him say he usually preferred living under a plastic sheet at People’s Park to abiding by rules at shelters.
For close to 30 years, his life’s path took him along the streets of Spokane. On June 23, he apparently crossed paths with people who cared so little for him that they thought he could be incinerated like rubbish.
There may be no government solution for that kind of life, just a government solution to deal with that kind of death.
The spaceman cometh, again
Often Spin Control finds itself saying, “That Tim Eyman, what a character.” Last week, it was, “What character is that Tim Eyman?” The answer: Buzz Lightyear.
Eyman, who donned a Darth Vader costume a few weeks ago in a failing effort to get signatures for a referendum, dressed up as the “Toy Story” character Thursday to turn in signatures for Initiative 917, which peels back license tab fees and charges to the $30 level that Eyman made his electoral bones sponsoring.
Buzz Eyman turned in about 252,000 signatures. That’s more than the 225,000 required, but not as big of a cushion as most sponsors feel they need. He made a plea for more signatures in the week that remains before the deadline.
With less fanfare and no stage props, supporters of Initiative 920 to repeal the state estate tax turned in 300,000 signatures the next day. They didn’t need to make a desperate plea for more.
Wait ‘til next year
Republicans are willing to give up part of their summer to attend a special session of the Legislature, but the governor is telling them not to scrap their vacation plans.
Last week, GOP leaders in the state Senate and House called for Gov. Chris Gregoire to call the session to trump a recent King County Superior Court ruling that the 1 percent property tax limit is illegal.
The ruling, which boils down to Judge Mary Roberts saying voters were misled on the 2001 initiative, is on appeal. But some Republicans seem to doubt Attorney General Rob McKenna can convince the state Supreme Court of the error of Roberts’ ruling before greedy local governments start jacking up property taxes.
Gregoire, who has denounced the court ruling, is saying no to the special session but has promised legislation if necessary next year. Apparently she has more faith in McKenna than members of his own party do.
Out and about
Most readers will take Tuesday off from work, but Congress will be out of session the whole week – which doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t working.
Rep. Cathy McMorris will be at several events in Eastern Washington this week, including a round table discussion on border security at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the U.S. Border Patrol office, 10710 N. Newport Highway. She’ll hold a pair of discussions on senior issues Thursday, at 1:30 p.m. at 1222 N. Post Street and at 3 p.m. at the Cheney Care Center, 2219 N. 6th in Cheney.
She’ll also take time out for a little electioneering, opening her campaign office at 402 W. Boone, at 10:15 a.m. Thursday. Friday morning she’ll be in Pasco for a congressional hearing on electricity and salmon.
Sen. Patty Murray will be at a discussion of a veterans cemetery for Eastern Washington at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St., and stop at Spokane Valley City Hall, at 3 p.m.