Campaign Trail

• Published May 21, 2008

• Comments (0)

Voters league gives three endorsements

SEATTLE — The Washington Conservation Voters has endorsed two candidates for statewide office, Republican incumbent Sam Reed for secretary of state and Democrat Peter Goldmark for state lands commissioner.

The Sierra Club's Cascade Chapter also announced Wednesday that it endorsed Gov. Chris Gregoire, citing her work to address climate changes, improve fuel economy and spur green-energy jobs in Washington. The group's position was similar to that of Washington Conservation Voters, which endorsed the Democratic governor last month.

Goldmark is running against two-term GOP commissioner Doug Sutherland; Reed has no opponent. The league describes itself as the political arm of the state's environmental movement.

This entry edited May 22, 2008 to correctly name The Washington Conservation Voters as the group providing the endorsement.

Mason Realtors back House seat campaign

SHELTON — Mason County Realtors have endorsed Brad Gehring for the 35th Legislative District seat held by Democratic Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton.

Gehring is a Bremerton city councilman and a Republican.

The Realtors previously announced they are backing Republican Herb Baze over three rivals for the other 35th district seat; also running are Republican Randy Neatherlin and Democrats Fred Finn and Daryl Daugs.

Anti-Iraq War teacher to run against Dicks

HOQUIAM — Anti-war college professor Gary Murrell of Grays Harbor County says he will run as the Green Party candidate against longtime U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks in the 6th Congressional District, which takes in much of the Olympic Peninsula.

Murrell has a Web site at www.garymurrell2008.com. He said in a news release that the election isn't about him or Dicks, but about "what kind of country we want to live in, about what kind of people we are. We need to restore our constitutional republic."

Murrell described himself as a Vietnam-era veteran with a labor background who would push for "an immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq" if elected. He criticized Dicks, who voted to allow the U.S. invasion of Iraq but who later said he regretted the vote, for giving President Bush a "blank check" in Iraq.

Murrell was the keynote speaker for the Greens at their state convention May 10.

He teaches history at Grays Harbor College and reported an endorsement by the Washington Federation of Teachers.

State PTA gives nod to McKenna's actions

OLYMPIA — The Washington PTA awarded Attorney General Rob McKenna its "friend of children" award recently at its yearly convention, recognizing efforts to promote child safety on the Internet.

McKenna, a Republican, faces Democrat John Ladenburg this year.

Democrats choose candidate for House

GRAHAM — Democrats in the 2nd Legislative District nominated JeanMarie Christenson over two other party hopefuls in a bid to replace Republican Rep. Jim McCune.

Christenson received 128 votes from precinct committee officers during a special nomination process that weighted votes according to the number of Democrats participating in the February party caucuses.

Chuck Collins received 27 votes and Ray Harper of Eatonville received 26, according to party officials.

The Olympian