Rep. Shirley Hankins, R-Richland
Longtime state Rep. Shirley Hankins may let us know that the future holds for her at a reception shes hosting Friday night at a Red Mountain winery. Or she might not.
Weve got a story in todays paper about this. But heres what we know.
The event is by invitation only and not just anybody is getting in. The chairman of the Benton County Republicans, for instance, did not get an invite.
House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, is scheduled to appear as a special guest. And donations and/or contributions will not be accepted.
Thats left a few legislators and others to wonder whether thats a sign Hankins is not planning to run again. Its also believed Hankins may use the event as a way to announce how shell spend her leftover campaign dollars, which she may choose to donate to a charitable cause of some sort.
But ultimately, no one outside of her inner circle seems to know for sure what Hankins is going to do.
UPDATE: Since our readers, for now, are unable to post their own comments I'll report that several have chimed in to speculate that Hankins is about to switch parties. A noted moderate with lots of misgivings about her own party, Hankins has regularly been the target of such speculation.
But she's also pointedly stated that she could never be a Democrat, mostly because she doesn't like the way they handle money. Though she's shown willingness to support new taxes for roads and during tough budget times Hankins is actually pretty conservative on fiscal matters.
Similar stories:
Kennewick woman wrapped in mother's quilt
Kennewick woman wrapped in mother's quilt
Her mother may be gone but each night Gayle Franzen of Kennewick sleeps enfolded in her mother's love.
Nola Ellis, a talented textile artist, was making a quilt for her daughter when she died Oct. 10 at the age of 72. Since she wasn't able to complete the blanket, her quilting group decided to do it for her -- in time for Christmas.
"She had been sewing on it that morning and went to bed at her usual time, and died in her sleep," Franzen said.
Lisa Marie Presley wants to make better Elvis film
Lisa Marie Presley wants to make better Elvis film
Over the years, Lisa Marie Presley has become dissatisfied with movies chronicling her father's life, so she just might make a film about the rock 'n' roll icon.
Stylist advocates for return to natural black hair styles, with a big chop first
Stylist advocates for return to natural black hair styles, with a big chop first
On the cold, winter night that Sharon Coleman shaved off all her hair, she sat surrounded by other African-American women who were grinning and applauding as the clippers hummed.
JFK intern recounts long-ago affair in new book
JFK intern recounts long-ago affair in new book
Mimi Alford was terrified in 1998 when the Monica Lewinsky scandal turned the word "intern" into a dirty joke, exposing an affair with a president. Her decades-old secret about her trysts with John F. Kennedy was still safe then.
Kennewick woman recalls sister's unsolved murder, 35 years later
Kennewick woman recalls sister's unsolved murder, 35 years later
KENNEWICK — A perfume bottle, sheet music, handwritten musings of a love-struck teen and a wedding cake topper fill a box that Janet Swanberg still has a hard time opening 35 years after her sister was murdered in downtown Kennewick.
The items carry great memories for Swanberg, but they also bring tears and heartache because she still doesn't know who killed the vivacious and free-spirited teen.
Carole Tyler, 19, was found stabbed to death inside the Tri-City Herald's circulation department. She had been the first to arrive at work at 6 a.m. on Oct. 30, 1976.
Print
Email Story
