June 11, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

As some who follow this blog may know, there has been some controversy regarding my coverage of Ms. Verner’s mayoral race. Yesterday I was notified that there was a police investigation under Washington’s new anti-cyber-stalking laws. It was started due to the harassing emails that had been sent to the Verner campaign and to Mary personally. I immediately responded by contacting Ms. Verner personally and speaking with her. I was not the person sending the emails regarding her, and involving her children. I do not condone that behavior and think it is despicable, yet unfortunately part of politics at times.

At the time I was speaking with her I also got the opportunity to ask her about the laptop. The information that wasn’t available at the time was that the campaign had actually paid for part of the laptop, and was allowing the former staffer to keep the laptop without repaying the amount theVerner campaign paid. The staffer was also allowed to take the laptop for several hours prior to the campaign taking the computer to have it wiped. So there was ample opportunity for said staffer to back information up. While I think that communication could have been better regarding what was going to happen, there were wrongs that occurred on both sides, and neither party is entirely to blame.

And to Old Hide, I would encourage you to speak to the police regarding this situation before they have to track you down… (and trust me it’s not terribly difficult)

I’ve received quite a few comments regarding what I have covered and why I am not covering “the issues,” in my view I am. I don’t want a one sided monologue (which is why, while anonymously, offered theVerner campaign an opportunity to respond) but I view issues such as the computer to be dirty laundry, and how a candidate handles issues such as staff is integral to how they will run their office if elected. I will report on anything I consider to be valid to the course of a campaign, and do so without remorse. I do like MaryVerner’s ideas, and I would like to see them expanded upon and an opportunity for her to address policy issues directly, as well as allow the other campaigns to do so.

Like I have told Mary, and also Mayor Hession’s campaign manager, I will be sending them a questionnaire this week to fill out that does directly approach the policy issues facing the city. I will be posting their responses as I receive them.

-Stuck in Spokane-

P.S. As to my anonymity it may or may not come out in the coming days/weeks who I am, and it is my prerogative to remain anonymous, I will tell you though it is not out of fear that I do so but as Jim Camden quoted me as saying, I find it quite entertaining the guessing game people are playing.

Posted in Letters, Spokane, Mayor | 2 Comments »

June 8, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Dear Progressive Candidates, Activists and Campaign Staff,

We have come a long way over the last several years. We have founded a new form of grassroots campaigning called the “netroots,” which have given the progressives of our society more exposure then they were ever able to obtain before. Due to the help of the netroots and true political money men like Rahm Emanuel, Democrats finally have the solution to our money deficiency. We have also formed coalitions to help us successfully and proactively govern in Washington D.C. Coalitions however are fragile entities, they are difficult to build, and easy to crumble (As Alpha mentioned the other evening). I don’t want to see these newly formed alliances crumble and fall, throwing all of us, no matter what our beliefs are and what emphasis we choose to take on them, back to the wolves. To prevent this from happening there are several things we all need to do, activists, candidates and campaign staff alike.

First, we need to maintain our coalition, whether we are environmentalists, businessmen or women, or civil rights activists, we must work together. The second we stop, the Republicans and the corporate interests in our country, our state, our county and our city will seize power again and at all cost we must prevent that from happening. To maintain this we must treat each other civilly, work together, and build friendships. ANYONE who cannot do this needs to be exposed as such and in essence blacklisted. They are poison pills and will eventually destroy this delicate alliance that has been woven.

Like I mentioned before, we have finally gotten the lead in fundraising game, and we can’t afford to lose it. Candidates, I’m looking at you, and only you, each candidate is personally responsible for the monetary success or failure of a campaign. You have to pick-up the phone and start dialing today, making the “hard ask” and following up to make sure you have the money you need to succeed. Campaign staff, while this is the personal responsibility of the candidate it is also your job to remind them of call time and to force them to follow up with each and every donor.

To the activists in the audience, I urge you, get more involved. Each of you can make a difference, whether it’s knocking on doors for an hour each weekend. If doorbelling isn’t for you, make phone calls, stuff envelopes, anything! Just do something to help progressive candidates get elected. If none of these options sound enticing you could even start a blog (or become a writer for Spokompton) and pass your ideas and news to others in the community.

We saw the benefit in 2006 of running a tight ship, we now have a solid majority in the House of Representatives, and a slim majority in the Senate. Lets keep our track record moving forward. Let’s win and prove to the world that not all Americans are hell bent on surrendering our civil liberties and conducting pre-emptive warfare but rather want to continue to advance the cause of freedom and justice for all.

Thank you,
Stuck in Spokane

Posted in Letters, Campaigns | No Comments »