Vancouver’s Pitched Senate Battle – Feisty Benton Faces Challenger Probst in Race That May Determine Senate Control
Features
McKenna Alleges Inslee Illegally Spent Federal Campaign Bucks on Gubernatorial Race – and This One’s No Ordinary Complaint
A long-simmering charge that former Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee improperly used federal campaign funds in his race for governor has finally exploded in the form of a formal complaint from his opponent, Republican Rob McKenna. But take note – this isn’t your ordinary campaign-violation complaint. This one’s a biggie, it’s gonna pop up before the election, and McKenna’s own office of attorney general plays a role.
Romney Headed to Ballot After All – Libertarian Suit Thrown Out
Republicans can breathe easy, now that a Thurston County judge has bounced a lawsuit that would have stricken presumed presidential nominee Mitt Romney from the ballot. And so can Democrats, knowing that there will be a top-of-the-ticket race to entice their voters to submit ballots. Looks like the Libertarian Party may face a big legal bill.
Baumgartner: No Apology to Publicola – Who Cares About F-Word When People are Dying?
State Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, underdog challenger to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., sick of answering questions about the latest partisan flap-of-the-day, finally snapped Monday night after news of a friend’s death in Afghanistan. He used a naughty word. The scandal has gone public. Baumgartner tells his side. Two thousand Americans dead and all anyone wants to talk about is abortion? Give him a break.
Complaint Filed Against Eyman for Under-the-Radar Initiative
An under-the-radar initiative circulated by ballot-measure wunderkind Tim Eyman is being placed under the spotlight by a complaint filed Monday with the state Public Disclosure Commission by onetime ally Sherry Bockwinkel. The argument is one thing, but the fact is, this might be the first time anyone has taken note of Initiative 517 at all.
Business Lines Up Behind Charter Schools Initiative — Missing Element of Coalition Falls into Place
Two leading business organizations announced their support Monday for this year’s charter-schools initiative, no surprise, given business support for a similar measure in the Legislature this year. But it means the last missing piece of the coalition that will battle for Initiative 1240 this season has fallen into place, while offering a counterpoint to a curious rebuff from the state PTA last week.
Libertarians Sue to Keep Romney From Ballot – Say Republicans are ‘Minor Party’
What if they held an election and Mitt Romney couldn’t come? That’s what the state Libertarian Party is saying ought to happen, in a lawsuit that claims the state Republican Party botched things and its presumed presidential nominee ought to be stricken from the ballot and reduced to write-in status. And this might make Republicans grit their teeth: The Libertarians are saying the GOP is actually a “minor party.”
Marty Brown Out at Office of Financial Management – Heads to State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Marty Brown, one of the old reliables at the statehouse, a figure who seemingly has been around as long as the marble itself and whose beard is just as speckled, has announced his departure as director of the Office of Financial Management. And so the state budget director joins the exodus of senior officials in the waning days of the Gregoire administration. Good gosh! That’s two in two days. Who’s next?