"Candidates outline positions at fair forum"

Michelle Dupler covered the candidates forum at the Palouse Empire Fair on Saturday morning. Here's her story from today's Daily News:

Republican candidates for the Washington Legislature and Whitman County commissioner assembled at the Palouse Empire Fair on Saturday morning to answer voters’ questions about issues affecting eastern Washington.

There was little to distinguish the candidates from each other. Their ideas and positions bore many similarities, leaving voters with what many of the candidates referred to as a tough choice in the Sept. 19 primary.

The audience questioned candidates on health care, alternative fuel sources, taxes, property rights, economic development and other issues.

Three of the Republicans running for Don Cox’s 9th District legislative position attended the forum. A fourth candidate, Ritzville businessman Glen Stockwell, attended a parade in Connell.

Here’s a rundown of candidate positions, as stated Saturday:

Health care

Steve Hailey, Mesa — Favors more competition among insurers.

Tedd Nealey, LaCrosse — Favors more competition among insurers. Administrative costs of health care can be reduced through technology. He favors offering prevention classes in public schools to teach kids about healthy behaviors; sin taxes on cigarettes and alcohol; and providing preventive health care to the poor so taxpayers don’t have to pick up the tab for chronic illnesses later.

Joe Schmick, Colfax — Favors more competition among insurers and noted that only two companies serve farm families in the state because of government mandates. He believes mandates on the insurance industry have to change because they cost taxpayers money.

Alternative fuel sources

Hailey — Believes Americans have the ingenuity to make alternative fuels work. Supports efforts to promote biodiesel because it keeps more money in the local economy rather than sending it overseas.

Nealey — Though biodiesel is less efficient than ethanol, Nealey believes the state needs to explore alternate fuel sources to reduce the dependence on foreign oil.

Schmick — Believes biodiesel efficiency will improve as refining technology improves. The main issue is making it more profitable for farmers to grow biofuel crops.

Taxes

Hailey — Does not favor a state income tax to replace the business and occupations tax.

Nealey — An income tax could help balance the state’s tax system and make it more equitable, but it is politically impossible to enact an income tax in Washington.

Schmick — Does not favor a state income tax to replace the business and occupations tax.

The four Republicans vying for Les Wigen’s District 3 seat on the Whitman County Board of Commissioners also were peppered with questions about the pending rural residential housing ordinance.

Here’s a rundown of candidate positions, as stated Saturday:

Private property rights

Michael Largent, Colfax — Favors private property rights. Believes rural residential housing proposal is too restrictive.

Jeannine Larkin, LaCrosse — Favors private property rights. Believes rural residential housing proposal is too restrictive.

Harmon Smith, Colfax — Helped develop the existing zoning laws. The time for the three-year-moratorium on development of farm land is over. Thinks proposed rural residential housing proposal is too restrictive.

Jim White, Colfax — Favors private property rights. Believes rural residential housing proposal is too restrictive.

Economic development

Largent — Economic development takes private investment, but the county government can ease restrictions and “stay out of the way.” Need to find ways for small towns to grow.

Larkin — The county needs to find a way to attract younger people to replace the aging population. It can build infrastructure to support small business growth.

Smith — Commissioners can recruit small businesses by showing them why it’s attractive to live on the Palouse. Favors tax credits for new businesses until they are stable, then have them pay taxes like everyone else.

White — Wants to be a cheerleader for Whitman County by touting “magnets” such as WSU, the Snake River and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

- The next League of Women Voters candidates forum is scheduled for Oct. 18 in the council chambers at Pullman City Hall.

I'm glad to see Harm Smith clarified his position (for the better) on the rural residential housing ordinance.

I met with most of the candidates when I attended the fair Friday night. There may not seem to be any major differences between candidates, but there are some. But they are all fine candidates and good Republicans.

I'll be giving my endorsements later this week.