Campaigning continues with Quincy forum

High school auditorium the site for event

Though last night's voter's forum at Quincy High School was filled with Democrats and Republicans, the most intense moments took place when two candidates for a nonpartisan office clashed.

Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline and his opponent, attorney Teddy Chow, sparred over a number of issues, including the incumbent judge's fairness, the importance of experience, and the public-defender problems facing the county.

The race was one of seven county and state races featured in a forum sponsored by the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce. Candidates gave short speeches, then answered questions from a three-member panel: former legislator and Grant County Commissioner Helen Fancher, Quincy businessman Pete Romano and Quincy City Councilman Scott Lybbert.

About 50 were on hand for the event.

Experience, Sperline said in his opening speech, is crucial to doing a first rate job as a judge.

"That is why," he added, "the office is never entrusted to a novice."

Chow responded that accountability is just as important, and that in the county today there are judges that keep being re-elected without anyone holding them accountable. Sperline has been re-elected five times and faced an opponent only once.

During their closing statements, Chow pledged to call a case as it is presented before him and not to come up with "weird decisions to appease the attorneys before you."

Sperline defended his decisions saying that sometimes the law asks a judge to figure out what is fair and what is equitable, and that is always hard.

He responded to Chow's criticism by saying that the attorney was doing the right thing by running for office if he thought the judge was doing a bad job.

Things became tenser when Sperline said his opponent had never been responsible for a case in Superior Court, when Chow muttered "That's a lie," without the microphone.

Chow asked for a chance to rebut, saying that he has tried felony cases and Sperline just has not been there.

"He trivializes justice because I work on a lower court," the district court attorney said. "Is that the judge you want?"

Earlier, State Rep. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake and her Democratic opponent Dale Hubbard met for only the second time in their campaigns.

Holmquist said that voters could count on her to work on issues such as tort reform, workers compensation and minimum wage, with tort reform being a "top issue" for her.

"Tort is hurting healthcare by sending doctors out and it's hurting builders by setting the insurance rates so high," she said.

She added that tort reform was not a partisan issue, but "the Democrats in the House will prevent us from voting on it. "

Healthcare is an important issue, Hubbard agreed, but the real culprits were the health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

"We need health care reform in the worst way," he said.

Holmquist said the county had everything it needed to be successful, and it only needed the state off its back "so our farmers can farm, and we can do what we do best."

Hubbard is the first Democratic opponent Holmquist has faced. Pledging not to follow his party line always, he said he will vote the way the people of his district need him to.

"Just because I am a Democrat, that does not mean I am not a redneck," he said.

Holmquist said she would work to avoid making the voters pay more taxes. "I have heard you loud and clear," she said. "No new taxes."

Holmquist's seat mate on the State House of Representatives also had a chance to ask people for support.

State Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, called himself "a crazy guy," who still thinks the job of representing people is important, and called on people to get involved with the political process.

Lisa Karstetter, executive director of the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce, read a statement from Patrick Wicklund, the Central Washington University student who is running as a Democrat against Hinkle.

Through the statement, Wicklund said only 20 percent of Hinkle's campaign money came from inside the district.

In the two open races for PUD commissioner, candidates sparred over the future of the fiber-optics program.

"If we want to bring fiber to the rural parts of the county, we're the ones that are going to have to do it," Commission President Tom Flint, who is running for his second term, said.

Soap Lake woman Kathryn Hanford-Wiley said the PUD told the federal Rural Utility Services on a loan application that it has spent $168 million on the fiber program.

"It's still millions of dollars. It still needs to be held under control," she said.

George irrigator Larry Williamson said the PUD as a whole needs to make its revenues match its expenses to become more financially secure.

"Let's get ourselves back to where we're not losing any money," Williamson said.

Irrigator David Stevens said he's in the race specifically to challenge Flint and because he wants to get more control over costs, reduce the PUD's debt and improve its services.

Mike Conley, who is running for re-election for his position two, said the future of fiber is secondary to the importance of relicensing the Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. Though the PUD faces no other credible challengers for the license, outside interests will be lobbying for benefits from the license, Conley said.

"Don't let that (fiber) distract you, folks. Relicensing of the dams is the issue," he said.

Conley's challenger, Greg Hansen, said the PUD's electrical rates have increased 75 percent from 12 years ago. Hansen's main issue is protecting those rates and keeping the PUD accountability for its spending.

"I want to see the rate held down or reduced," Hansen said.

A second challenger, Lee Blackwell, did not appear at the forum.

Voters will choose the top two candidates in the primary, who will then face-off in the general election.

In the race for Grant County commissioner, incumbent Republican Leroy Allison, who is from Warden, said he will "hold the line" against tax increases to fix the county's budget problems.

Allison's challenger in the primary, Moses Lake's Ron Baker, said the county's $22 million budget this year included $1.57 million in carryover funds, and the reserve has run dry.

"It's time for a change. A change is needed to open the lines of communication and resolve budget issues," Baker said.

The lone Democratic contender, Moses Lake businessman Ritchie Norman, was unable to attend because of an illness. A representative, Susan Wicks, spoke in his place.

Norman "would be a powerful leader in working to direct the departments of the county," she said.

Also in attendance at the forum was Commissioner Tim Snead, a Democrat, who will face Republican Rich Stevens in the November general election.NNJ)OhmTo%e*Rally in QuincyMain_Server&OhmTS|e*Rally in Quincyuntitled)OhmTSae*Rally in QuincyMain_ServerNNJSORToeAeJAUDT