Does Tyana Kelley Think Gov. Gregoire is Insensitive?

Democratic 9th Legislative District State Representative candidate Tyana Kelley wrote on her blog:

The Republican candidates were out in force at both parades. Each candidate had their own vehicle: either a gas-guzzling truck, or car with an equally big engine. In Albion we were put in the line to walk right in between all these vehicles. It was a bit intimidating. My opponent, Joe Schmick, had the biggest truck, a Ford F-350. With gas at $4.50/gallon, it seemed a bit insensitive.

Huh.

I wonder what Tyana thought of Governor Gregoire's Lentil Festival Grand Parade ride, a Ford Mustang convertible (EPA estimated gas mileage 15 MPG city/23 MPG highway with 4.6L engine and manual transmission)? I think that counts as a "gas guzzling car with an equally big engine."

I seriously doubt the Governor has had to gas up since she signed the 9.5 cent gas tax hike into law 3 years ago. She doesn't feel the same pain at the pump that Washington's working families do.

'Cuz Every Voter's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Gal

While Democrat Tyana Kelley is campaigning for "working class families" in Washington's 9th Legislative District, she is using her campaign funds to shop at ritzy clothing stores like Macy's and New York and Company.

According to PDC reports, nearly 10% of the $3701.01 Kelley has spent so far has been on clothing. I'm sure the working families of this district who are dealing with the nation's highest gas tax, courtesy of the Democratic legislature and Governor Gregoire, would love to treat themselves to a $300 shopping spree.

Luckily for the union-backed Kelley, none of the purchases have been made at Wal-Mart. However, it is interesting to note that Kelley, who has falsely claimed that Rep. Joe Schmick believes that "businesses in WA border towns should be able to pay lower wages in order to compete with Idaho minimum wage" herself spent $62.54 at Macy's, which, of course, IS LOCATED ACROSS THE BORDER IN MOSCOW, IDAHO.

On her PDC report, Kelley even tries to pull a fast one by reporting that Macy's is located in Pullman:


Kelley feels 9th District voters are "underrepresented" in Olympia. If she means we are not represented by spendthrifts who have no loyalty to Washington businesses, she's exactly right.

Oh, and Tyana, just one more thing: love your suit.

"Early primary election returns favor Schmick; District 9 representative appears likely to face Pullman Democrat in general election"

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Washington District 9 Rep. Joe Schmick has a commanding lead after the first round of ballots were counted in the state's top-two primary election.

Schmick, R-Colfax, has received 11,015 votes (61.7 percent) thus far in the race for his Position 1 seat. Challenger Tyana Kelley, D-Pullman, has garnered 5,792 votes (32.5 percent), and Green Party candidate Christopher Winter of Clarkston received 1,036 votes.

Whitman County voters also supported Schmick, who received 2,948 votes (63 percent) to Kelley's 1,462 votes (31 percent). Winter received 282 votes in Whitman County (6 percent).

Mail-in ballots had to be postmarked by Tuesday to be counted in the primary, and results from a second round of counting will be released Friday afternoon. The top two vote-getters will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

Schmick said he's pleased to receive so much support from people in his district.

"I think it's an affirmation that people are grateful for what I was able to accomplish for them," said Schmick, who was appointed to the position in November when David Buri stepped down to take a job with Eastern Washington University. "I don't think you can go through this and not be anxious, but I was very pleased."

Kelley also is excited about moving on to the general election.

"Everyone told me not to worry too much ... but I didn't want to discount any candidates, so I'm very happy," she said. "My goal in the primary was to move on, and I did."

Both candidates agreed the hard part is still ahead. They'll start the "parade season" Saturday at the National Lentil Festival in Pullman.

"I think we've been running a really strong campaign, and we want to continue doing what we've already been doing," Kelley said. "The more doors we can knock on and the more personal contact with voters we have, I think it will pay off in the end."

Schmick said he looks forward to the challenge leading up to the general election.

"It has been an honor to represent the people in the 9th District," he said. "I'm overwhelmed by how good the people are to work with. And I will continue to work hard for them."

The District 9 Position 1 seat was the only local race that featured more than two candidates.

In other contested races, newcomer Pat O'Neill, D-Colton, has received 584 votes (56 percent) in his bid to unseat Whitman County Commissioner Position 2 incumbent Jerry Finch, R-Pullman, who received 453 votes (44 percent).

District 9 Position 1 Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, received 11,315 (64 percent) to challenger Kenneth Caylor's 6,254 votes (36 percent). Caylor is a Democrat from Odessa. Their results in Whitman County were similar, with Hailey garnering 2,901 votes (63 percent) to Caylor's 1,678 votes (37 percent).

This is the state's first primary election under the top-two system, which was approved by 60 percent of Washington voters in 2004 and recently was upheld by a 7-2 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. It allows voters to pick one candidate for each office without regard to party.

According to Whitman County elections Web site, ballots have been received from 4,939 of the 18,928 registered voters in the county (26 percent) and 1,200 of them have yet to be counted.

"Schmick, Kelley advance in 9th District; GOP's Schmick gets 62 percent of the vote in primary"

If Tyana Kelley "hopes to represent working-class families in Olympia," I have some advice: don't insult the vehicles those families drive and stop supporting a tax-and-spend legislature and governor that have run up a $2.7 billion deficit and now threaten to institute a state income tax. If you want to get more than 32% of the ballot in the rural conservative 9th District, you can't run on an urban liberal platform.

I can tell you that when it comes to campaigning, nobody can outhustle Joe Schmick. And you'll never meet a more humble, down-to-earth guy.

The primary results also show why the "Top Two" primary is undemocratic. Green Party candidate Christopher Winter is now knocked out of the general election. Third parties will never have a chance now. Up north of Spokane, in the 7th Legislative District, two Republicans, Sue Lani Madsen and Shelly Short, will face off in the general election. In Seattle, there are districts where only two Democrats will compete. I don't see how the "Top Two" system is the celebration of "traditional Washington values" it has been proclaimed to be. Voters have even less choice than before.

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

State Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and Democratic challenger Tyana Kelley made it over the first hurdle in their efforts to represent Washington's 9th Legislative District in Olympia for the next two years.

The two participated in the district's only contested race during Tuesday's primary election, seeking to fill the state House position 2 seat. Schmick is leading with 11,015 votes, or 62 percent of the ballots cast; Kelley, of Pullman, received 5,792 votes, or 32 percent. But a number of ballots mailed Tuesday still had to be counted.

Green Party candidate Christopher Winter, of Clarkston, was in third place with 1,036 votes, or 6 percent of the ballots cast, on his way to becoming a casualty of Washington's new top two primary rules. Historically, he would have advanced to the Nov. 4 general election regardless of the primary results, because he represents a different party than Schmick or Kelley. This year, however, only the two highest vote-getters advance.

Tuesday's election results came in the middle of harvest time for Schmick, who operates a farm in the Colfax area, where he grew up.

"I'm thankful for the support I've seen," he said. "I'm humbled by it. It's an honor to serve and represent the people. I hope I never lose that feeling."

Schmick, who was appointed to the Legislature last November, said he's traveled around the district trying to meet as many people as possible, and plans to keep at it during the general election campaign.

"Talking to people and listening to their concerns is what's put me in this position," he said. "I'm going to continue to do that."

Kelley is a board member and volunteer coordinator for the Pullman Civic Theatre. She grew up in a union family and hopes to represent working-class families in Olympia.

Tuesday's results "were pretty much to be expected," she said. "I was hoping for a closer spread, but I think we'll see a little fluctuation" as the remaining ballots are counted.

In addition to his lead at the vote count, Schmick also has a sizable advantage in campaign funding. As of July 31, he reported more than $35,000 in contributions, including funds rolled over from 2007. By comparison, Kelley had received $4,835.

"He has some significant backing, but I'm hoping my showing in the primary will convince more people to donate to my campaign," Kelley said. "The good news is, my biggest expense is going to be gas for driving around the district to meet people, and I have enough money to pay for that."

Winter, a sociology instructor who teaches online and live classes, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Voters also cast ballots in two other 9th District races, although neither was contested.

Incumbent Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is unopposed in November. In the district's House position one race, incumbent Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, will square off against Democrat Kenneth Caylor. Hailey was leading with 64 percent of the primary vote, compared to 36 percent for Caylor.

The 9th District covers the southeastern corner of Washington, from the Oregon border north to Cheney and as far west as Othello.

The county-by-county breakdown of the voting for position 2:

Adams County: Schmick, 73 percent; Kelley, 23 percent; Winter, 4 percent; voter turnout, 38 percent.

Asotin County: Schmick, 54 percent; Kelley, 39 percent; Winter, 7 percent; voter turnout, 41 percent.

Franklin County (partially in district): Schmick, 78 percent; Kelley, 19 percent; Winter, 3 percent; voter turnout, 25 percent.

Garfield County: Schmick, 74 percent; Kelley, 24 percent; Winter, 3 percent; voter turnout, 52 percent.

Spokane County (partially in district): Schmick, 59 percent; Kelley, 35 percent; Winter, 6 percent; voter turnout, 29 percent.

Whitman County: Schmick, 63 percent; Kelley, 31 percent; Winter, 6 percent; voter turnout, 26 percent.

"Big biz rolls out campaign dough despite weak ballot"

The August 14 edition of the Whitman County Gazette reported that figures from the Washington Public Disclosure Commission show that nearly $200,000 has been contributed to Washington 9th Legislative District political candidates thus far. Approximately $180,000 has been raised by Republicans, and around $5,000 by the Democrats and Green Party. That's quite a disparity. Depending on how things go in today's primary, much of that Republican surplus will likely be used in other districts statewide to help elect other Republicans.

That contribution disparity has been replayed in the Washington 5th Congressional District, prompting Gazette editor Jerry Jones to come to a conclusion similar to the one that I made recently about this year's race:

Motorists in Whitman County during the days before the state’s Aug. 19 mail-in primary deadline can’t help but notice the attractive campaign signs posted for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She is seeking a third term as 5th district representative. The incumbent’s campaign seems to be picking up a full head of steam, and she’s predicted to nail down another term.

The Federal Elections Commission report as of July 31 puts the McMorris Rodgers campaign contributions at $1,083,675 with spending at $651,112.

A report in Sunday’s Lewiston Morning Tribune notes Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer are among top level corporate executives who have sent in money. General Dynamics and R.J. Reynolds execs also have sent contributions.

McMorris Rodgers in previous races has been a tough campaigner who covers the miles in her district. With her experience and staff, she appears to be a strong favorite to win another term, despite running in a year when the Republicans are predicted to sustain a setback.

However, this time around the campaign is different. The 5th district incumbent is in a race which really isn’t a race when compared to the last two rounds. Although other names are on the ballot, McMorris Rodgers doesn’t have a strong opponent.

The last time around she was challenged by Peter Goldmark of Okanogan. Goldmark, a member of a family with a hallowed link to the state’s Democratic party, cranked up a strong campaign with TV ads featuring his ranching family mixed with the normal Democratic themes.

Goldmark is now challenging incumbent Doug Sutherland for commissioner of public lands. As a Democrat, he figures to get strong party support on the west side of the state. That outlook contrasts with the 5th district which now has a distinct GOP-leaning electorate.

Two years prior to the Goldmark challenge, McMorris faced Don Barbieri, Spokane hotel executive who plowed a lot of his own money into the campaign.

This time around, McMorris Rodgers faces a lineup of political lightweights. While the Goldmark and Barbieri campaigns enrolled strong backing from the Democrats, the foes this time around don’t have the same credentials, or the same kind of money.

According to the Spokesman Review, Mark Mays, a Spokane psychologist and attorney, is seen as the top opposition candidate for the Democrats. Mays, as of July 31 has raised $43,939 and spent $33,464. Those kind of numbers mean not a lot of campaign signs along Whitman County highways and byways.

Of course, veteran 5th district voters have seen past campaigns when the incumbent pulled out all the stops with strong financial backing while facing lightweight opposition. Democrat Tom Foley waged power campaigns against Republican challengers who lacked name recognition, money and support for their own party. Foley, who advanced up the power ladder to be speaker of the house, could expect a stack of corporate contributions and those were used.

A money flow to incumbents is one of the hard facts in today’s politics. Those corporate contributions on the McMorris Rodgers donor list shouldn’t be considered as special for the 5th district. The donations are also on the lists of candidates around the country. The money flow has been criticized, but it’s the way of doing business in a world where decisions in congress can impact corporations and where candidates now need a lot of money to campaign, even when they don’t have to campaign.

WA 9th Legislative District: Republican Candidate Joe Schmick Answers Your Questions

Thanks to Rep. Schmick for taking time to answer questions during peak harvest time. Schmick's opponent, Democrat Tyana Kelley did not respond to my request to answer questions.

Scott from Garfield asks: Do you support a vehicle tax based on engine size?

No. Absolutely not. SB6900 is the bill that would tax cars and trucks
based on engine size. Although it did not make it out of committee, we have
been told that it will be back in this coming session. This would hurt
every working family in the 9th District and not good public policy.