Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 38 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Island County prosecutor runs low on money
INSIDE: Falcon fly north, Sports, A12
Democrats pile up cash for election
Life’s a beach,
By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
could no longer enjoy walks on the beach, that appeared to be the end of one of her favorite pastimes. But then a couple of years ago while visiting San Diego, Duane saw unusual wheelchairs cruising down the miles of public beach. “They were free,”
As of Friday morning, the campaign contributions of incumbent Island County commissioner candidates Helen Price Johnson and Angie Homola, both Democrats, were among the top four highest of local races across the state. According to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, an agency that functions as a campaign contribution watchdog, Price Johnson had amassed $50,295, the second highest in the state out of 136 total candidates. Homola totaled $30,797, making her the fourth highest. That put both candidates ahead of King County sheriff hopeful John Urquhart’s $26,825, but below Pierce County executive candidate Patrice McCarthy’s $66,849, the top recipient. Clark County commissioner candidate Toe Tanner’s raised $44,660, which is the third highest. Price Johnson, who represents South and Central Whidbey in District 1, said it was still way too early to say whether her donations suggest anything definitive, but she said she certainly wasn’t taking it as a bad omen. “I think it’s an endorsement of good government,” she said. Republican challenger Jeff Lauderdale isn’t doing bad either as the 10th highest recipient in the state, but his $19,835 is still far behind that of Price Johnson. Lauderdale said he doesn’t believe contributions offer any real predictions and isn’t too worried about the difference. “I think it’s a testimony of the Democratic Party’s ability to raise money, nothing more, nothing less,” Lauderdale said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of money, it’s how you spend it and what your message is and I think my message is the right one,” he said. Also running for the District 1 seat are independent candidate Curt Gordon, a Port of South Whidbey commissioner with $5,270 in contributions, and
See Wheelchair, A6
See Election, A6
By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
It’s nearly budget season again at Island County and the first official funding requests are beginning to roll in, literally. At the commissioners’ weekly work session in Coupeville Wednesday, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks entered the room lugging a wheeled cart loaded with massive three-ring binders. Banks told the board that the thousands of pages of documents were from just one of the three murder cases currently being handled by the prosecutor’s office. The department is also juggling two public corruption cases and is laboring with a rash of recent sex offenses. “We’re really still struggling to keep our heads above water,” Banks said. He requested that a three-daya-week deputy prosecutor be hired to full-time status as well as reinstating a half-time receptionist and legal assistant. Both positions would begin immediately, impacting the 2012 budget, but only the increased hours of the deputy prosecutor’s job would be permanent, he said. Since 2008, the county has cut millions from its general fund to address revenue shortfalls. Much of those savings were found in the reduction of staffing levels and departments have been struggling to keep up ever since. According to Budget Director Elaine Marlow, funding the two positions isn’t impossible, at least for this year. A contingency fund for unexpected expenses is built into every annual budget and about $124,000 is still available. That’s more than enough to cover the estimated $35,000 price tag of funding the positions for the rest of the year. But that’s just the prorated price of funding See Prosecutor, A7
even with a wheelchair Jim Larsen / The Record
The one obstacle at Double Bluff to the use of beach wheelchairs is the three concrete steps leading to the beach. Here, after her beach visit, Carol Spangler is lifted up the steps by her husband Duane at right and Tom Fallon, parks district facilities manger. Terri Arnold, parks director, readies Carol’s regular wheelchair.
Beach wheelchair shows access need By Jim Larsen Record editor
One sees a lot of things at South Whidbey’s most popular beach: People with sun umbrellas, teens on skimboards, adults with sailboards and parasailing gear, dog lovers letting Fido roam free and chase sticks tossed into the water. What you don’t often see is someone in a wheelchair enjoying being pushed along, oblivious to the soft sand and shallow saltwater at low tide and coasting through salty pools of water. But such was the scene earlier this week when Duane Spangler pushed his wife Carol in their spanking new “beach wheelchair,” a simple yet effective contraption made of white plastic pipe sporting a comfortable foam seat, umbrella holder, netted storage space and fat, soft tires that make pushing a wheelchair through the sand not only possible but downright easy. The couple moved to South Whidbey in 1968 and both had long careers teaching in the public schools, Carol specializing in
Jim Larsen / The Record
Pushing the beach wheelchair through the sand and saltwater at Double Bluff Beach is no problem for Duane Spangler as his wife Carol enjoys the ride. Its balloon tires and light plastic frame make many beaches and trails accessible to the disabled. kindergarten. Their farm was a popular spot for the public to pick strawberries and pumpkins, and Duane later became known and an amateur maker of ancient spears called atlatls who has since modernized into crafting bows and arrows that he sells at local craft shows. When Carol became disabled and