Why is Jay Inslee afraid to talk about his record? The News Tribune is critical of Governor Inslee’s refusal to debate his gubernatorial opponent more than once.  The editorial correctly points out that traditionally candidates for Washington governor face off three or more times (on both sides of the state) to provide voters with the necessary information needed to determine who should lead our state’s executive branch for the next four years.  The paper reported that our governor holds the unique distinction of consistently avoiding opponents. “In both 2016 and 2020, Inslee is the only candidate — local, state or congressional — to decline to do a joint News Tribune election endorsement interview with his opponent.”  Obviously, the Inslee campaign wants to reduce the opportunities for their candidate to make one of his famous embarrassing gaffes, like when he stated he was unaware that rioters had forcibly taken over six blocks of Seattle, or that he thought Antifa was a person, or when he brought maggot-infested apples into the heart of the state’s tree fruit region. He certainly has plenty to answer for, which is why he does not want to face any questions. (News Tribune, Rebecca Perry Twitter, YouTube, and Seattle P-I)

Crosscut published an anti-Snake River dam article, from a member of the Makah Tribe, which provided incorrect figures on the number of sockeye salmon returning to the river and demonstrated a lack of understanding of sockeye’s importance to Puget Sound Orca.  The article stated that only 17 sockeye made it through the dams last year, yet fact checkers at the Washington Policy Center state that the real 2019 figure was 81  (and, that in 2020, the amount grew to 632). The article failed to mention that new water management techniques at the dams appear to be improving the number of sockeyes.  Also, the article failed to mention that Orcas do not really eat much Snake River sockeye (as they mostly eat the larger Chinook salmon) and thus this distracting point is irrelevant to the survival of the whales. But, when you’ve got emotion, why use facts?  (Crosscut and Twitter)

Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman continues to ensure the state has fair and professionally conducted elections, while the Democrats persist in their efforts to place the office under control of their political party.  In 2016, the Democrats put forward Tina Podlodowski, who was so blatantly partisan (and unqualified for the job) that she became the Democrats State Party Chair after she lost to Wyman.  And, demonstrating that learning from failure is not the party’s strong suit, Democrats this year have chosen State Representative Gael Tarleton of Seattle, another unqualified partisan who sponsored legislation (HB 2529) this year to do away with odd-numbered year initiatives because so many Democrat voters cannot be bothered to vote in non-presidential year elections. (News Tribune and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)

Despite federal government relief efforts being well underway in June, Washington State’s economists determined it would be facing an $8.8 revenue shortfall over the next three years – and then businesses were allowed to partially re-open from Jay Inslee’s random lockdowns, which led to more consumer purchases and an unexpected increase in tax collections.  The state released its latest financial forecast Wednesday, which cut its previously projected revenue shortfall nearly in half.  State officials believe this was due to nearly $1 billion dollars in unexpected tax revenues. This demonstrates once again that while government financial assistance is helpful, allowing the private sector to return to normal is the most important factor in reviving our economy. (Everett Herald)

Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Maia Espinoza attacked incumbent SPI Chris Reykdal for his lack of leadership, as schools have moved to distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic.  Espinoza said Reykdal has concentrated too much on what schools cannot do, as opposed to what they can, and should, do to help students.  Espinoza stated, “I think the lack of leadership in the current superintendent’s office has left school districts with more questions than answers and more problems than solutions.”  Reykdal is considered very vulnerable due to only receiving 40% of the vote in the August primary, and for being the author of the controversial sex education legislation which is the subject of the Referendum 90 campaign. (Spokesman-Review)

Good news for local college football fans, as the PAC-12 will likely return to play by November 7^th.  League schools are expected to vote today to allow teams to resume practices and prepare for a shortened season.  University of Washington players are currently completing a seven-day quarantine and are expecting to return to the practice field next week. (Seattle Times)

As Seattle officials continue to prove that (sometimes violent) protests have more impact than campaign promises and election results, Mayor Jenny Durkan is giving away three taxpayer-owned properties to Black-led community groups.  The mayor said, “Our city must make real on the promise of bold investments in the Black community and increasing community ownership of land.”  Thus, while city councilmembers attempt to placate protestors by conveniently forgetting their campaign promises to increase funding for the Seattle police, the mayor is handing out city properties.  (Seattle Times)

The City of Seattle has given an $150,000 contract to a former pimp to become a “street czar” and offer alternatives to policing.  The city hired Andre Taylor, who served time in the 1990s for being a pimp in Las Vegas, as Mayor Durkan was desperately scrambling to find someone to negotiate with the CHAZ occupiers this summer. Media reports do not include what exactly Taylor’s responsibilities will include for his very handsome salary. (MyNorthwest and Las Vegas Sun)

A study says that Western Washington’s cool and moist climate is ideal for the Asian giant hornet (aka “murder hornet”) and that “aggressive measures” are needed to eradicate it to protect honeybees.  The study conducted by Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture shows that the hornets mostly live in forested foothills.  The hornets can wipe out an entire honeybee colony in hours. Hopefully Governor Inslee won’t take any of the murder hornets from his yard in Olympia and hand them out for photo ops, as he did maggot-infested apples. (Seattle Times)

Tri-Cities health officials are encouraged that there has been no outbreak of the coronavirus after three weeks of classes in area private schools. The officials believe this is a positive sign, as local public schools prepare to return students to in-person instruction in the next couple of weeks. Benton Franklin Health District administrators stated this is the result of schools strictly adhering to social distancing guidelines and wearing facemasks. (KEPR)

Agritourism businesses in Central Washington are currently busy preparing to re-open, due to the latest random revised guidelines for their industry.  Governor Inslee’s initial guidelines in late August upset many in Central Washington, for they failed to include those in modified Phase 1 counties (Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, and Yakima).  Then, after the governor’s office was finally shamed into speaking with a few agritourism businesses which actually knew how the industry operates, the state allowed those in Phase I counties to conduct “u-pick” activities and indoor commerce. After more businesses had input, businesses in Phase I counties may now perform the same activities (hayrides, children’s games, animal viewing, bonfires, etc.) as those in Phase II counties. And, after more input, maybe we’ll get a real governor. (Wenatchee World)

Spokane area schools are planning to return students to in-person instruction as soon as October 7^th. Local health officials have approved plans to return K-2^nd grade to schools.  Local districts plan to incorporate an alternating A/B schedule, and to screen every student and staff member each day for symptoms. (KXLY)

Attorney General Bob Ferguson believes he alone is the determining factor to ensure there is a peaceful transfer of power at the presidential level.  In his latest fundraising email, Ferguson writes, “If Donald Trump loses this election and refuses to transfer power, I’m prepared to take him to court — but I need your support now if I’m going to stop him.” If the very unlikely scenario plays out and there is a constitutional crisis, Ferguson apparently has very little faith in former Vice President Joe Biden to protect the will of the people, and only he as the Attorney General of Washington State, can save the country.  Besides providing that unique perspective on the super-constitutional role of the Washington State AG, the fundraising email touted an anonymous press validation of his importance by stating, “Media outlets have called my race ‘one of the most important in the nation’ for exactly this reason.” We have found out why the Ferguson campaign failed to attribute this quote, for it comes from The Stranger – not really one of the country’s (or even the county’s) most respected “media outlets”. (Ferguson campaign fundraising email and The Stranger)

Washington State law appropriately allows local governments to approve legal fees to defend an elected official if they are being recalled by citizens, since they are sometimes sued over official actions, sometimes frivolously, and serving in office would become quite the expensive endeavor without some protection.  However, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant went out of her way to allegedly break the law and violate her oath of office.  If Sawant was not acting in her official capacity, why should the residents of Seattle pay for her defense? (Shift)

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