Election Endorsements

Ballots have been mailed out in Whitman County, so its time for the annual Palousitics election endorsements.

UNITED STATES SENATE: Mike McGavick

McGavick will provide Washington with a strong, independent voice in the other Washington. He has proven business leadership, a lot of good policy ideas, and will no doubt make a great Senator. Maria Cantwell is pathetically ineffective and a major embarrassment, so much so that even the liberal Seattle Times and Spokesman-Review can't bring themselves to endorse a sitting Democratic Senator.

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 5TH DISTRICT: Cathy McMorris

In this year of discontent, first-term Congresswoman McMorris might have been vulnerable to being picked off by rancher Peter Goldmark. Goldmark, however, has allowed his campaign to be taken over by left-wing bloggers and other extremists from outside the district who are financing his campaign. He's been so busy attacking McMorris, particularly on veterans issues, that he has forgotten to actually articulate any positions of his own. McMorris did well in her first two years and will only grow in influence in her next two years in Congress. Again, the Seattle Times and Spokesman-Review have endorsed McMorris after backing her opponent in 2004.

WASHINGTON STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES

I-920 (ESTATE TAX REPEAL): YES

Queen Christine's death tax will be a death sentence for Pullman when Ed Schweitzer passes.

I-933 (PROPERTY FAIRNESS): YES

If we want farming in this state to be more than just entertainment for rich, liberal Seattleites who enjoy the quaint scenery as they drive to their ski chalets, we must pass I-933. Ignore the tree-hugging fearmongers. I-933 will not pave over any pasture or kill any salmon.

I-937 (WIND ENERGY): NO

Hydroelectric power is NOT renewable energy? Even liberal big city newspapers have rejected wacky I-937.

STATE OF WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: Stephen Johnson

Johnson is a champion of property rights and limited government. His opponent, Justice Susan Owens, has made it clear in her decisions that she is more concerned with environmentalism than property rights and is all too willing to legislate her liberal version of morality from the bench.

STATE OF WASHINGTON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 9TH DISTRICT, POSITION 1: Steve Hailey

Hailey is a rancher and farmer, a lifelong resident of the district, and a Vietnam War hero with a solid record of public service. He vows to help business and agriculture in Eastern Washington. His opponent, the Pundit's Perky Preppy Princess Pursuing Political Promise, 22 year old Caitlin Ross, engaged in questionable shenannigans while registering to vote in the 9th District, is completely unqualified, knows nothing of our district's needs and is completely out-of-sync with our values. Ross, endorsed by the execrable Senator Cantdowell and bankrolled by Code Pink activist Dal LaMagna, espouses the most liberal positions, such as an even higher minimum wage.

STATE OF WASHINGTON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 9TH DISTRICT, POSITION 2: David Buri

David is running unopposed, but vote for him anyway. He is a very effective legislator, being named as Assistant Minority Whip in his first term. Buri can be counted on to work for us in Olympia.

WHITMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3: Michael Largent

Largent will be a defender of free enterprise and property rights at a time when we desperately one in Colfax. Nathan Weller has a lot of ideas (many of them unrealistic), but government is about more than surfing the Net. Weller's sudden civic interest (he didn't vote for the last six years) does little to commend him for the office. Being from a different party is not a reason to vote for someone.

WHITMAN COUNTY AUDITOR: Eunice Coker

Eunice has presided over the Auditor's office during the tumultuous 2004 election and the switch to all-mail voting and proven herself equal to the challenge. Her Napoleon Dynamite-wannabe opponent, Nathan Horter has "computer skills" to offer and little else. The Whitman County Democrats have ran a campaign against Coker unparalleled in recent times for nastiness.