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Washington State-Wide Elections: The Governor’s Race Page 2 |
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Helping to fuel the animosities of the contentious 2006 judicial races had been the reactions of the Gay and Conservative Christian communities — and the rest of the state — to the issuance of a state Supreme Court opinion in which the Court had narrowly held — 5 to 4 — that Gay Marriage was NOT mandated under the Washington State Constitution.
By November 2006, all three Washington Supreme Court incumbents — Alexander, Chambers, and Susan Owens — were re-elected.
Ireland & Utter Bring a Private Legal Action against Rossi & BIAW
The legal actions filed by Attorney General McKenna in Sep 2008, had not been enough for former state Supreme Court Justices, and Gregoire donors and supporters, Faith Ireland and Robert Utter.
The PDC had found the evidence for one of their legal claims to be “vague” and declined to further investigate it. This was the accusation that Rossi, as a candidate, had coordinated his campaign solicitation efforts with the BIAW, invalidating BIAW as an independent party, and making it a mere contributor to the Rossi Campaign. If this legal theory was accepted by a court of law and proven, the BIAW would be limited to a political campaign contribution to the Rossi Campaign of $3,200, rather than the millions of dollars it was spending on third party ads supporting Rossi and criticizing Gregoire. The BIAW had raised some $3 Million to be used for negative ads against Gregoire.
Less than a month before the (final) Election Day of Nov 4th, Dino Rossi was named in the suit brought by Attorney Knoll Lowney, on behalf of Ireland and Utter. On October 6th, a King County Superior judge approved Lowney’s request to immediately subpoena witnesses, including Rossi, and start taking depositions.
Lowney announced that he would be taking depositions on October 15th, the very day that county auditor officers around the state would start sending out the Vote-By-Mail Ballots for the 2008 General Election!
The state Attorney General’s Office rolled into action. It issued a letter (reported as a “ruling”) on October 9th that the King County Superior Court did not have jurisdiction in the citizen’s lawsuit brought by Ireland and Utter, over the BIAW, and possibly, Rossi.
A delay was apparently obtained for the depositions for October 15th.
Former state Supreme Court Justices, Faith Ireland and Robert Utter had to content themselves on October 15th with the publication of their Guest Editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, entitled, “Don’t Exempt Rossi From State Campaign Laws.”
On Wednesday, October 15th, Republican Dino Rossi and Democrat Chris Gregoire took part in their 5th and final debate in Seattle.
In an October 16th Associated Press article, written by Rachel La Corte, reporting on this debate, the private suit was also discussed, including the fact that arguments were scheduled to be heard in King County Superior Court on Thursday (presumably October 16th).
End Notes:
[1] Builders accused in efforts to defeat Gregoire; $3.5M illicit fund claimed / “Illegal tactics” must be stopped, group says, Ralph Thomas, The Seattle Times. Seattle, Wash.: July 26, 2008; pg. B.1. [2] Builders groups facing state scrutiny; Political spending broke rules, regulators say, Richard Roesler, Spokesman Review. Spokane, Wash.: Sep 16, 2008. pg. B.1 [3] AG files suits over campaign violations; Legal action against 2 builders groups / Failure to report roles in directing donations, Rachel La Corte, The Seattle Times. Seattle, Wash.: Sep 20, 2008; pg. B.1.
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Story continued on . . . |
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Apparently not mentioned in any of the 2008 or 2006 news articles was the fact that, while she was serving as Washington State Attorney General, Christine Gregoire had taken the rather unusual act of serving as a Supreme Court judicial candidate’s campaign co-chairperson in the 1990s. This candidate ran against incumbent Justice Richard Sanders and lost. |
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We Now Come to the REALLY BIG DEAL about these legal proceedings! |