Does Tyana Kelley Think Gov. Gregoire is Insensitive?

Democratic 9th Legislative District State Representative candidate Tyana Kelley wrote on her blog:

The Republican candidates were out in force at both parades. Each candidate had their own vehicle: either a gas-guzzling truck, or car with an equally big engine. In Albion we were put in the line to walk right in between all these vehicles. It was a bit intimidating. My opponent, Joe Schmick, had the biggest truck, a Ford F-350. With gas at $4.50/gallon, it seemed a bit insensitive.

Huh.

I wonder what Tyana thought of Governor Gregoire's Lentil Festival Grand Parade ride, a Ford Mustang convertible (EPA estimated gas mileage 15 MPG city/23 MPG highway with 4.6L engine and manual transmission)? I think that counts as a "gas guzzling car with an equally big engine."

I seriously doubt the Governor has had to gas up since she signed the 9.5 cent gas tax hike into law 3 years ago. She doesn't feel the same pain at the pump that Washington's working families do.

'Cuz Every Voter's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Gal

While Democrat Tyana Kelley is campaigning for "working class families" in Washington's 9th Legislative District, she is using her campaign funds to shop at ritzy clothing stores like Macy's and New York and Company.

According to PDC reports, nearly 10% of the $3701.01 Kelley has spent so far has been on clothing. I'm sure the working families of this district who are dealing with the nation's highest gas tax, courtesy of the Democratic legislature and Governor Gregoire, would love to treat themselves to a $300 shopping spree.

Luckily for the union-backed Kelley, none of the purchases have been made at Wal-Mart. However, it is interesting to note that Kelley, who has falsely claimed that Rep. Joe Schmick believes that "businesses in WA border towns should be able to pay lower wages in order to compete with Idaho minimum wage" herself spent $62.54 at Macy's, which, of course, IS LOCATED ACROSS THE BORDER IN MOSCOW, IDAHO.

On her PDC report, Kelley even tries to pull a fast one by reporting that Macy's is located in Pullman:


Kelley feels 9th District voters are "underrepresented" in Olympia. If she means we are not represented by spendthrifts who have no loyalty to Washington businesses, she's exactly right.

Oh, and Tyana, just one more thing: love your suit.

"Early primary election returns favor Schmick; District 9 representative appears likely to face Pullman Democrat in general election"

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Washington District 9 Rep. Joe Schmick has a commanding lead after the first round of ballots were counted in the state's top-two primary election.

Schmick, R-Colfax, has received 11,015 votes (61.7 percent) thus far in the race for his Position 1 seat. Challenger Tyana Kelley, D-Pullman, has garnered 5,792 votes (32.5 percent), and Green Party candidate Christopher Winter of Clarkston received 1,036 votes.

Whitman County voters also supported Schmick, who received 2,948 votes (63 percent) to Kelley's 1,462 votes (31 percent). Winter received 282 votes in Whitman County (6 percent).

Mail-in ballots had to be postmarked by Tuesday to be counted in the primary, and results from a second round of counting will be released Friday afternoon. The top two vote-getters will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

Schmick said he's pleased to receive so much support from people in his district.

"I think it's an affirmation that people are grateful for what I was able to accomplish for them," said Schmick, who was appointed to the position in November when David Buri stepped down to take a job with Eastern Washington University. "I don't think you can go through this and not be anxious, but I was very pleased."

Kelley also is excited about moving on to the general election.

"Everyone told me not to worry too much ... but I didn't want to discount any candidates, so I'm very happy," she said. "My goal in the primary was to move on, and I did."

Both candidates agreed the hard part is still ahead. They'll start the "parade season" Saturday at the National Lentil Festival in Pullman.

"I think we've been running a really strong campaign, and we want to continue doing what we've already been doing," Kelley said. "The more doors we can knock on and the more personal contact with voters we have, I think it will pay off in the end."

Schmick said he looks forward to the challenge leading up to the general election.

"It has been an honor to represent the people in the 9th District," he said. "I'm overwhelmed by how good the people are to work with. And I will continue to work hard for them."

The District 9 Position 1 seat was the only local race that featured more than two candidates.

In other contested races, newcomer Pat O'Neill, D-Colton, has received 584 votes (56 percent) in his bid to unseat Whitman County Commissioner Position 2 incumbent Jerry Finch, R-Pullman, who received 453 votes (44 percent).

District 9 Position 1 Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, received 11,315 (64 percent) to challenger Kenneth Caylor's 6,254 votes (36 percent). Caylor is a Democrat from Odessa. Their results in Whitman County were similar, with Hailey garnering 2,901 votes (63 percent) to Caylor's 1,678 votes (37 percent).

This is the state's first primary election under the top-two system, which was approved by 60 percent of Washington voters in 2004 and recently was upheld by a 7-2 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. It allows voters to pick one candidate for each office without regard to party.

According to Whitman County elections Web site, ballots have been received from 4,939 of the 18,928 registered voters in the county (26 percent) and 1,200 of them have yet to be counted.

"Schmick, Kelley advance in 9th District; GOP's Schmick gets 62 percent of the vote in primary"

If Tyana Kelley "hopes to represent working-class families in Olympia," I have some advice: don't insult the vehicles those families drive and stop supporting a tax-and-spend legislature and governor that have run up a $2.7 billion deficit and now threaten to institute a state income tax. If you want to get more than 32% of the ballot in the rural conservative 9th District, you can't run on an urban liberal platform.

I can tell you that when it comes to campaigning, nobody can outhustle Joe Schmick. And you'll never meet a more humble, down-to-earth guy.

The primary results also show why the "Top Two" primary is undemocratic. Green Party candidate Christopher Winter is now knocked out of the general election. Third parties will never have a chance now. Up north of Spokane, in the 7th Legislative District, two Republicans, Sue Lani Madsen and Shelly Short, will face off in the general election. In Seattle, there are districts where only two Democrats will compete. I don't see how the "Top Two" system is the celebration of "traditional Washington values" it has been proclaimed to be. Voters have even less choice than before.

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

State Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and Democratic challenger Tyana Kelley made it over the first hurdle in their efforts to represent Washington's 9th Legislative District in Olympia for the next two years.

The two participated in the district's only contested race during Tuesday's primary election, seeking to fill the state House position 2 seat. Schmick is leading with 11,015 votes, or 62 percent of the ballots cast; Kelley, of Pullman, received 5,792 votes, or 32 percent. But a number of ballots mailed Tuesday still had to be counted.

Green Party candidate Christopher Winter, of Clarkston, was in third place with 1,036 votes, or 6 percent of the ballots cast, on his way to becoming a casualty of Washington's new top two primary rules. Historically, he would have advanced to the Nov. 4 general election regardless of the primary results, because he represents a different party than Schmick or Kelley. This year, however, only the two highest vote-getters advance.

Tuesday's election results came in the middle of harvest time for Schmick, who operates a farm in the Colfax area, where he grew up.

"I'm thankful for the support I've seen," he said. "I'm humbled by it. It's an honor to serve and represent the people. I hope I never lose that feeling."

Schmick, who was appointed to the Legislature last November, said he's traveled around the district trying to meet as many people as possible, and plans to keep at it during the general election campaign.

"Talking to people and listening to their concerns is what's put me in this position," he said. "I'm going to continue to do that."

Kelley is a board member and volunteer coordinator for the Pullman Civic Theatre. She grew up in a union family and hopes to represent working-class families in Olympia.

Tuesday's results "were pretty much to be expected," she said. "I was hoping for a closer spread, but I think we'll see a little fluctuation" as the remaining ballots are counted.

In addition to his lead at the vote count, Schmick also has a sizable advantage in campaign funding. As of July 31, he reported more than $35,000 in contributions, including funds rolled over from 2007. By comparison, Kelley had received $4,835.

"He has some significant backing, but I'm hoping my showing in the primary will convince more people to donate to my campaign," Kelley said. "The good news is, my biggest expense is going to be gas for driving around the district to meet people, and I have enough money to pay for that."

Winter, a sociology instructor who teaches online and live classes, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Voters also cast ballots in two other 9th District races, although neither was contested.

Incumbent Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is unopposed in November. In the district's House position one race, incumbent Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, will square off against Democrat Kenneth Caylor. Hailey was leading with 64 percent of the primary vote, compared to 36 percent for Caylor.

The 9th District covers the southeastern corner of Washington, from the Oregon border north to Cheney and as far west as Othello.

The county-by-county breakdown of the voting for position 2:

Adams County: Schmick, 73 percent; Kelley, 23 percent; Winter, 4 percent; voter turnout, 38 percent.

Asotin County: Schmick, 54 percent; Kelley, 39 percent; Winter, 7 percent; voter turnout, 41 percent.

Franklin County (partially in district): Schmick, 78 percent; Kelley, 19 percent; Winter, 3 percent; voter turnout, 25 percent.

Garfield County: Schmick, 74 percent; Kelley, 24 percent; Winter, 3 percent; voter turnout, 52 percent.

Spokane County (partially in district): Schmick, 59 percent; Kelley, 35 percent; Winter, 6 percent; voter turnout, 29 percent.

Whitman County: Schmick, 63 percent; Kelley, 31 percent; Winter, 6 percent; voter turnout, 26 percent.

Tyana Kelley Doesn't Think Your Truck is Sexy

Spokane urban transplant Tyana Kelley and Democratic candidate for the Washington state legislature has a lot to learn about the 9th District. Heck, she's only been here since last August.

For example, Kelley wrote on her blog about the Johnson and Albion 4th of July Parades:

The Republican candidates were out in force at both parades. Each candidate had their own vehicle: either a gas-guzzling truck, or car with an equally big engine. In Albion we were put in the line to walk right in between all these vehicles. It was a bit intimidating. My opponent, Joe Schmick, had the biggest truck, a Ford F-350.

I wonder if Tyana realizes that Joe is a farmer and needs that truck to farm? I wonder if she realizes that many of her potential voters also drive similar rigs for similar reasons?

She stated in an interview with the Moscow-Pullman Daily News that "We need someone in Olympia to work with the Democratic majority." God forbid. Do 9th District voters want a Democrat supermajority to hit us with the 2009 version of SB6900?

You remember SB6900. It was the bill proposed by a Seattle area liberal senator earlier this year that would have engine displacement and emission fees for motor vehicles according to a schedule tied to engine size in liters and CO2 emissions in grams per mile. That's just what area farmers need when the price of diesel is already at record levels.

Just tell Tyana, "No thanks." She can move out of the area when her husband finishes up at WSU. We don't need any more carpetbaggers around here.