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PeninsulaNorthwest
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Peninsula Daily News
Justice Sanders in tight re-election fight By Gene Johnson
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders found himself with a slim lead over challenger Charlie Wiggins on Tuesday night in a bid for a fourth term, even as some voters expressed concern over controversial remarks Sanders made about why blacks are more likely to be convicted of crimes than whites. Sanders had a lead of 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent with about half the vote counted. The libertarian Sanders has come under fire recently for insisting at a court meeting that racial bias plays no significant role in the criminal justice system. He said certain minority groups are “disproportionally represented in prison because they have a crime problem.” “I’ve been under brutal
personal attacks,” Sanders said Tuesday. “There’s been an effort to demean me, to misrepresent my views. This is not the kind of campaign I wanted to run.” Wiggins, a Bainbridge Island attorney who briefly served as a state appeals court judge, was leading in King County, the state’s most populous, while Sanders had big leads in Eastern Washington and more narrow leads in Snohomish and Pierce counties.
Endorsement withdrawn Sanders’ remarks caused The Seattle Times’ editorial board to recant its endorsement of him and instead come out in favor of Wiggins. Blacks make up 4 percent of the state’s population and nearly 20 percent of its prisoners, and studies around the country have linked such disproportionate numbers to drug
enforcement policies, poverty and racial biases throughout society. “It’s a big issue that has arisen at the last minute, and it throws a light on a pattern of statements by Justice Sanders that are not well-considered,” Wiggins said Tuesday.
Proud of record Sanders said he has nothing to apologize for and he’s proud of his record of standing up for the state Constitution and individual liberties even when it’s unpopular — a philosophy that has made him a frequent dissenter on the court. Some of his supporters took issue with the uproar over his comments, noting that he has often sided with criminal defendants — including black criminal defendants — whose cases reached the high court. But some voters said the
remarks were troubling and cost Sanders their support. “I was appalled,” said Ingrid Lewison, a 63-yearold Seattle Democrat. “If he loses the election, it’s going to be because of that.” Wiggins argued that the frequency of Sanders’ dissents suggested he’s outside the judicial mainstream. He pointed to cases where Sanders stood alone in writing in 2003 that the act of indecent exposure isn’t a crime against a person, and in 2007 in recommending the suspension, rather than disbarment, of a lawyer who sexually molested an 11-year-old boy who had been one of his clients. In 2008, Sanders shouted “Tyrant!” at then-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey at a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C. Sanders later released a statement saying he was speaking his conscience,
Richard Sanders “Brutal personal attacks”
Charlie Wiggins Issue arose at “last minute”
and he cited inadequate access to the legal system for detainees at Guantanamo Bay and the importance of the Geneva Conventions. Sanders had the backing of the Building Industry Association of Washington, the state Republican and Libertarian parties and business groups.
Wiggins secured the endorsements of many prosecuting attorneys, the state Democratic Party and the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs. Justice Jim Johnson and Chief Justice Barbara Madsen were re-elected. They did not have general election opponents because they won more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary.
Judges get more authority to refuse bail to suspects The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Washington voters overwhelmingly decided Tuesday to give judges more power to deny a suspect bail, after last year’s brutal slaying of four Lakewood police officers by a gunman who had recently been released. The Legislature approved the measure in the spring, but as a constitutional amendment it had to be approved by voters to be enacted. It was passing with nearly 86 percent of the vote Tuesday. Previously, the only charge for which bail could
be denied was aggravated murder. The amendment allows state judges to deny bail when a suspect is charged with any crime carrying a possible life sentence and poses a danger to the community.
Lakewood police shooter Maurice Clemmons had posted bail less than a week before he killed the four Lakewood officers last November. He had been arrested for investigation of child rape, which could have brought a life sentence because of his previous criminal record.
Among the measure’s supporters is Kim Renninger, the widow of Lakewood Sgt. Mark Renninger, who said it could save someone’s life. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards were ambushed at a coffee shop in a Tacoma suburb Nov. 29. Clemmons eluded police for two days but was shot and killed by an officer in Seattle after a massive manhunt. Opponents of the measure said judges can already set high bail or other conditions of release. The problem in Clem-
Voters reject green schools measure and other energy upgrades at public SEATTLE — A stateschools and colleges wide referendum authoacross the state. rizing bonds for school R-52 would have energy retrofits has authorized $505 million been defeated. in bonds to be paid back Nearly 57 percent of by extending the temvoters were rejecting porary sales tax on botReferendum 52 with tled water set to expire 1.37 million votes counted Tuesday. About in 2013. Opponents said the 2.4 million votes are initiative would have expected statewide. saddled the state with The green schools measure had support in too much debt and wouldn’t create the numKing and Jefferson ber of jobs promised. counties but was losing in most other Washington counties. ‘Not the right time’ “It’s disappointing to Judy Kuehn, 63, who have lost,” said Cynara is retired, voted against Lilly, spokeswoman for the measure. “It’s not the Healthy School for the right time to be Washington campaign. “This was conceived with doing that,” she said the best of intentions. It Tuesday as she dropped off her ballot in Seattle. was an opportunity to The green schools create jobs while making measure asked voters to our schools a healthier place. While the measure authorize $505 million in bonds to be paid back went down, we saw a fair amount of support.” by extending the temporary sales tax on bottled She and other supwater set to expire in porters of Referendum 2013. Legislators needed 52 said the money was needed to pay for newer voter approval to exceed pipes, better insulation the state debt limit. The Associated Press
mons’ case wasn’t that the judge who granted the release had too little authority, but too little information about the defendant’s extremely violent past, they argued. Gov. Chris Gregoire said the measure does a good job of balancing the rights of defendants with public safety. At least a dozen other states, including California and Florida, have constitutional clauses or statutes that allow judges to deny bail for charges other than capital crimes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Privatization of workers’ comp rejected Supporters say they will try legislation next The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Washington voters have rejected an initiative that would have privatized workers’ compensation insurance. With more than half of the expected vote counted in Tuesday’s election, Initiative 1082 was being defeated by more than 16 points, with 58 percent of voters saying no on the ballot.
Backed by business I-1082 was a businessbacked initiative that sought to take away the state monopoly on workers’ compensation insurance. The campaign for Initiative 1082 was part of a long-
running political battle between the powerful Building Industry Association of Washington and the state Department of Labor and Industries, which runs the state’s workers’ comp system. Initiative supporters argued competition could reduce costs for employers in a time of great economic uncertainty.
Results disappointing Kris Tefft of the Association of Washington Business said the results were disappointing and that business groups would try to reform workers’ comp through the Legislature next year. “I think it shows it was difficult to break down to voters what was at stake in Initiative 1082,” Tefft said. Opponents of the initiative said it would be a mis-
take to let profit-driven insurance companies into the workers’ comp market, which has been run under a public system in Washington since 1911. They also said that the estimated $315 million per year in reduced payments by workers would shift higher costs to employers. “It’s a great feeling. It was a long and hard campaign, but our main goal was for voters to read the fine print and see it would tax small businesses and hurt families,” said Alex Fryer, spokesman for the initiative’s opposition. “It’s heartening to see voters rejected 1082 so forcefully.” Washington is one of four states that doesn’t allow private companies to sell workers’ compensation coverage. Some employers self-
Death Notices Louisa Mae Heathers Dec. 26, 1913 — Oct. 31, 2010
Louisa Mae Heathers of Port Angeles died of agerelated causes. She was 96. Services: Today, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., memorial at HarperRidgeview Funeral Chapel, 105 W. Fourth St., Port Angeles. (This corrects a Tuesday Death Notice in which the wrong time was reported.) www.harper-ridgeview funeralchapel.com
He was 83. An obituary will be published later. Drennan-Ford Funeral Home, Port Angeles, is in charge of arrangements. www.drennanford.com
Robert Page Spalding May 28, 1922 — Oct. 31, 2010
Robert Page Spalding died in Port Townsend of natural causes at 88. Services: Friday, Nov. 5, Robert A. Kennedy from 10 a.m. until noon, Dec. 30, 1926 — Nov. 1, 2010 visitation at the Church of Dr. Robert A. Kennedy Jesus Christ of Latter-day died in his Port Angeles Saints, 10104 Rhody Drive, residence of leukemia. Chimacum, preceding the
1 p.m. service at the same location. Burial will be later in St. Helena, Calif. www.kosecfuneralhome.com
Paul Louis Weber Aug. 2, 1986 — Oct. 28, 2010
Paul Louis Weber died suddenly in Olympic National Park. Cause of death is to be determined. He was 24. Services: Today, Nov. 3, 3 p.m., Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel, 105 W. Fourth St., Port Angeles. The Rev. Julie Kanarr will officiate. www.harper-ridgeview funeralchapel.com
Remembering a Lifetime at www.peninsuladailynews.com under “Obituary Forms.” ■ Death Notices, in which summary information about the deceased, including service information and mortuary, appear once at no charge. No biographical or family information or photo is included. A form for death notices appears at www.peninsuladailynews.com under “Obituary Forms.” For further information, call 360-417-3528.
Death and Memorial Notice Gertrude A. ‘Trudy’ Waldron January 7, 1921 October 28, 2010 Trudy Waldron, 89, passed peacefully in her sleep on October 28, 2010. She was born January 7, 1921, in Centralia, Washington, to Carl B. and Anna A. (Asmus) Kreher. The family moved to Port Angeles in 1930, where she attended Jefferson Grade School and Lincoln High School, graduating in 1939. She worked in Port Angeles as a stenographer and in retail sales. In 1942, she married Eldrige “Rige” Waldron in Yuma, Arizona, and returned to the Port Angeles area while Rige was in the Pacific during World War II. During her 20 years as a military wife (Marine Corps and Army), she moved 26 times until they settled in University Place, where she had lived for
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Mrs. Waldron 55 years. Trudy will always be remembered for her sense of humor and pleasant nature. She always made new friends wherever she went and maintained those friendships for many years. She enjoyed outings with her close friends and loved to have a hot cup of tea in the afternoon. During her various illnesses, she never complained or felt sorry for herself, and maintained her “can-do” attitude. She
was a wonderful mother, wife, and homemaker. Trudy will be greatly missed by all who came to know and love her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rige, of 60 years; her sister, Gladys Wray, and brother, ‘Curly’ Kreher; as well as her lifelong friend, Dorothy Rasmussen. Trudy is survived by her daughters, Joanne (Lyle) Barker of Toledo, Washington, Dianne (Al Kresse) Melvin of Graham, Washington; and her son, John, of University Place; two grandchildren, Mike (Leila) Melvin and Kirsten Melvin; four greatgrandsons and numerous nieces and nephews. For donations, a memorial fund has been set up at Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850, or to the Humane Society of your choice. A funeral will be held at Drennan-Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles on Friday, November 5, 2010, at 1 p.m.
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■ Death and Memorial Notice obituaries chronicle a deceased’s life, either in the family’s own words or as written by the PDN staff from information provided by survivors. These notices appear at a nominal cost according to the length of the obituary. Photos and ornamental insignia are welcome. Call 360-417-3556 Monday through Friday for information and assistance and to arrange publication. A convenient form to guide you is available at area mortuaries or by downloading
insure under state supervision, but the rest must buy policies through Labor and Industries. I-1082 was not one of the marquee matchups on the ballot, but the two sides raised nearly $10 million combined.
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