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closeFriday, Oct. 16, 2009
16th District candidates have similar platforms
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer
Looking strictly at the issues, it can be hard to tell the difference between 16th District legislative candidates Laura Grant and Terry Nealey.
The decision may come down to party affiliation and whether voters want their conservative Eastern Washington district to send a majority party Democrat to Olympia or to add another Republican to the many GOP legislators already representing Eastern Washington.
Grant, the Democrat, is the daughter of the late Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla. He held the seat for 22 years before his death from cancer in January. For many years, he was the Legislature's only rural Democrat from Eastern Washington.
Laura Grant was appointed to the seat in February, and quickly set about trying to prove she could fill her father's shoes, with help from Democratic leaders in Olympia.
She has argued that as a Democrat, she can provide Eastern Washington a voice in the majority party, while Nealey has pledged as a minority Republican to work with members of both parties.
Grant has received significant financial support from the party and individual legislators. At the time of the August primary, she was leading Nealey in fundraising, but that turned around once Nealey clinched the second spot on the Nov. 3 ballot and won the support -- and $30,000 in cash -- from the state Republican Party.
As of Thursday, Nealey had pulled ahead by raising more than $124,000 compared with Grant's $104,000.
Both have accepted money from corporations and special interest groups.
Nealey donors include U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., $800; energy companies Avista Corp., $1,600, American Energy Inc., $800, and Pacificorp, $800; and Wal-Mart Stores, $1,600. Health insurer Premera Blue Cross of Seattle gave $500.
Energy company Calportland gave Nealey $800 in August.
Nealey also received contributions from dozens of individuals or small businesses ranging from $3 to $1,000.
Nealey, a Dayton lawyer, also reported a business relationship with Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc., a company building wind turbines in Columbia County. According to his Public Disclosure Commission filings, Nealey owns 50 percent of Dayton Title Co., which received more than $10,000 worth of business from RES.
Grant, a fifth-grade teacher, reported no similar business relationships.
Her campaign contributions include $20,000 from the House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee, $10,000 from the state Democratic Central Committee and $1,600 from the Harry Truman Fund, which is overseen by House Democrats.
Other contributors include the Campaign for Tribal Self-Reliance by the Washington Indian Gaming Association, $800; Central Washington Lawyers for Working Families, $1,600; Education Voters Political Action Fund, $800; Public School Employees of Washington, $1,600; and Washington Restaurant Association, $1,600.
Grant received $800 cash contributions each from Inland Northwest, justice, children's and hospital political action committees.
Contributions of $500 each came from Columbia Basin Railroad Co., drug company Eli Lilly and Co., Puget Sound Energy, Verizon Communications and the Washington Forest Protection Association. United Transportation Union gave two $500 contributions.
On the issues, both candidates:
-- Favor classifying hydro-power as a renewable energy source, but also developing alternative power sources such as nuclear, wind and solar.
-- Oppose cutting levy equalization money for school districts.
-- Oppose imposing a cap and trade scheme on carbon emissions in the state.
-- Oppose raising taxes.
-- Favor amending the state's "use it or lose it" policy for water rights for farmers so that water conserved can be used to expand production.
Laura Grant
Age: 47
Family: Married with three children
Occupation: Fifth-grade teacher; incumbent state representative
Why she's running: Grant wants to continue the legislative legacy of her father, the late Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla.
She describes herself as a conservative Democrat who favors fiscal responsibility and creating a more favorable climate for small businesses by reforming the state's business and occupations tax.
Terry Nealey
Age: 62
Family: Married with two adult children and five grandchildren
Occupation: Lawyer
Why he's running: Nealey is running because he wants to curb overspending in Olympia.
He considers himself a conservative Republican who would advocate for a prioritized approach to the state budget, focusing on education first, then human and health services and public safety.
-- Michelle Dupler: 509-582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com
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