Smart Bombs
Recent editorial board endorsement interviews in the Washington state primary trigger the following observations:
“When asked to invoke a justice they admire or would hope to emulate, all of the Supreme Court incumbents mentioned Sandra Day O’Connor. The only one who mentioned a different federal justice was Jeanette Burrage. She admires Clarence Thomas. Like she says, “Burrage rhymes with courage.”
“The most difficult races to prepare questions for were sheriff and assessor. That’s because these shouldn’t be elective offices. Are there Republican or Democratic ways to protect and serve or administer property assessments? (“How many chairs would you put in the waiting room?”)
These officeholders make technical judgments, not ideological ones. Currently, Spokane City Council and mayoral races are nonpartisan. Assessor, auditor, treasurer, clerk and sheriff are partisan. Flip that equation, and you have a sensible system.
“I have to disagree with those who say these races didn’t draw enough stellar candidates. There are more deserving people than positions available. It’s just that many good candidates chose to crowd into the same races. Several District Court candidates would outshine the field in the county attorney’s race. If they lose, I hope they consider the chief prosecutor’s job next time.
“The best experience was the conversation with the candidates for District Court, Position 6: David Stevens, Debra Hayes, Christine Carlile, Mike Nelson and Harvey Dunham. Thoughtful, authentic and really interesting personal backgrounds. Only one – the incumbent – pounded tedious talking points.
“I admire just about anyone who runs for office, because it has to be a grind going door to door and forum to forum to seek jobs that come with public criticism from people like me. I would especially like to thank Cal Walker, Ozzie Knezovich, Brad Stark and Ralph Baker for agreeing to be test passengers on our maiden voyage in broadcasting interviews on the Web.
I don’t want the world. I just want your half. The Washington State Pharmacy Board’s rescinding of its proposed “conscience clause” in dispensing drugs such as emergency contraceptives is being billed as a compromise. OK, I can see the need for some face-saving here, considering Gov. Chris Gregoire and most of the public got everything they wanted – and rightly so. But if that’s a compromise, so is this:
Husband: “I got the job!”
Wife: “Wow! And the $1,500 a week you asked for?”
Husband: “Not exactly. They countered with $1,000. But we compromised, and now I’m getting $52,000 a year and an hour for lunch every day!”
To protect and … protect and protect. In the article about how Spokane City Council members felt misled by the rehiring of the fired police officer, former Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers explains the city’s motivation. She said the council was told in executive session that there were “other excessive force incidents involving other officers that hadn’t resulted in discipline and that would have given Hensley grounds to come back and sue.”
Executive session is often called to discuss personnel matters, but this shows how the public’s interest can be intertwined and why such matters merit an open hearing. Just how many officers are we talking about here?
As the roll call sergeant always said in “Hill Street Blues,” be careful out there.