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Attorney General: Rob McKenna (incumbent) ( R ) v John Ladenburg (D)
It is my general citizen’s opinion that the Attorney General’s office has represented this State quite well and run this office in an efficient, fair, and nonpartisan fashion. I am particularly appreciative of the decisions to Petition for a Writ of Cert from the U.S. Supreme Court in two major areas of the law — the Top Two Primary case and the PDC v. WEA and Davenport cases. In the case of the Top Two Primary, McKenna and his department, didn’t have a practical choice. In the PDC v WEA and Davenport cases, I am not sure that all attorney general offices would have chosen to pursue the matter. But this is an office and a state Attorney General that now seems to take the high non-partisan road, as it should be, but not always is. |
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Other WA State-Wide Races: Page 2 Attorney General Auditor Supreme Court Judges |
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The Supreme Court Coronations : Started 10/24/2008
Sorry Folks, its all over as far as the Judicial Races go. Its all a coronation now! Those races that were actually challenged were determined back in the August Primary, when at least half of the eligible voting population wasn’t paying the least bit of attention.
Mary Fairhurst. Justice Fairhurst faced a pretty good challenger for her seat back in the Primary. His name was Bond, but not James Bond. There are a number of rulings with which many would disagree with her. Thankfully, she was intelligent enough to be in the Dissent in PDC v. WEA and Davenport.
The most infamous case, where Fairhurst really goofed was her Dissent in the Gay Marriage case in 2006. But trying to tell anyone in this state that this case was REALLY about an attempt to misuse the Judiciary to settle a Public Policy Question that should properly be left in the hands of both the State Legislature and Governor, or with the People, in the form of an Initiative, would be far worse than talking to a Brick Wall. Any intelligent leaders of discussion on this question would probably get stoned to death by the Irate Villagers on both sides of that issue, in this state!
Charles W. Johnson. Justice Back in the Spring and Summer of 2008, the media could have at least acknowledged incumbent Justice Charles Johnson’s vote for the 6-3 Majority Opinion in the peculiar PDC v WEA and Davenport cases of 2006. I am not saying that this one opinion alone should have kept Justice Charles Johnson from being re-elected, but I am saying that newspapers throughout the state of Washington owed it to the public to bring up this matter and have a good honest public debate regarding this matter.
Debra L. Stephens. How I wish that back in the Spring of 2008, some brave & qualified member of the Washington State Bar would have said:
“Hey, I’m just as qualified to be a WA State Supreme Court Justice as Debra L. Stephens. Heck, she was just appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in December 2007, when Bobbie Bridge resigned. She’s only had some six months of Supreme Court Experience. It isn’t really fair to let a Governor have ALL the say in the selection of a State Supreme Court Justice who IS supposed to be actually ELECTED by the people of this state!”
But no such altruistic Sacrificial Lamb stepped forward. No member of the bar took on this role, in this, the year when both the WA Governor Rematch and the 2008 Never Ending Presidential Election sucked all the Oxygen Out of the Room, and all of the Available Cash needed to fuel what such an endeavor would take!
For all I know, Debra Stephens may be the next Oliver Wendell Holmes, but it is more than a bit disturbing to see our election system break down, and be overtaken by a very twisted WA Appointment System.
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State Auditor: Brian Sonntag (D) (incumbent) v J. Richard (Dick) McEntee ( R )
Incumbent Brian Sonntag is the one Democrat many of the Republicans love to praise, as apparently the Sonntag keeps coming up with all these ways of saving money that Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire fails to implement. |
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For the Conclusion to The Supreme Court Coronations Please & More to Come Please Turn to . . . |