To absolutely nobody’s surprise, PDC complaints have started flying in the race for mayor of America’s Vancouver. It’s standard operating procedure for conservatives in Clark County to throw bogus charges right about this time in a campaign, you can practically set your clock by it.
And lo and behold, challenger Tim Leavitt’s campaign is making accusations but not actually filing formal complaints, according to the Columbian. Way to have the courage of your campaign handlers, Timmy. Just like he’s against tolls on a new bridge unless he’s for them, Leavitt is being wronged but he isn’t actually filing a complaint, he’s just complaining.
A friend has started calling this “the Don Benton playbook,” and that’s about right. Equal parts pugnaciousness and victimhood, with a soupçon of “free market,” government-is-a-business seasoning, the playbook demands accusing one’s opponent of all sorts of unseemly associations and intentions during the crucial ballot marking period, counting on the local newspaper to deliver the accusations in such a way the opposition cannot respond quickly. And what better way to do that than by using an agency that conservatives don’t even believe should exist?
Fortunately incumbent Royce Pollard’s campaign seems ready to fight back, most likely because Pollard isn’t running for the state Senate as a Democrat, he’s running for the non-partisan mayoral spot again, thus freeing him to anticipate entirely predictable moves that conservatives have made in campaigns around here since the last century.
Next up from the Leavitt-Benton playbook: more conserva-whining. Without their victim status, conservatives are nothing.
Jon,
Given your comments, what do you think about Don Benton endorsing Pollard this week?
@1 Obviously, it means Leavitt is so bad even his mentor and teacher can’t stand him.
right…or could it mean that Royce and Benton share political philosophies?
The Clark County Republican Party has not made an endorsement in the Vancouver mayoral race or any non-partisan races this year.
Dear Republicans:
Senator Don Benton came out with an endorsement of Royce Pollard for Vancouver mayor this week. As we have previously stated, both mayoral candidates have Republican and Democrat supporters alike.
Senator Benton has requested that I forward his endorsement to you. In his endorsement of Royce Pollard, Senator Benton states:
�I wanted you to know that I have endorsed the re-election of Royce Pollard as Mayor of Vancouver. I know that for many of you this will be shocking, so let me explain my reasoning. There are two choices in this race. I know both candidates. Royce and I have big disagreements on a few items (I-5 bridge, HOV lanes, light rail and tolls) and I am hoping he will someday see the light (no pun intended) on the light rail boondoggle. But even though we disagree, I believe Royce is honest, has impeccable character and is truly committed to the people of Vancouver and the job of Mayor. He strongly opposes the big casino project and with good reason in my opinion. Even though we have �had it out� a few times on issues, he still returns my calls�that says something about the kind of person he is.�
Senator Benton also stated:
�I could have sat this one out but, as you know, that isn�t my personality. I want the best for my constituents and the best for Vancouver and right now with the choices we have, the best, in my opinion, is Royce Pollard.�
For more information on the Vancouver mayoral candidates and their endorsement lists, please visit their websites:
Royce Pollard: http://www.pollardformayor.com
Tim Leavitt: http://www.leavitt4mayor.com
Jon are you going to respond to the question?
This is interesting, but it doesn’t surprise me. Both candidates practically share views, save for a few differences. Both of them are obviously well-qualified for the position, and, IMO, think they should be a shoe-in for it. Therefore, they have to find anything, no matter how mundane, to make the other candidate look as bad as possible.
Having said that, they could use a changing of the guard up there in V-town, and with both of them serving as elected city officials, that isn’t going to happen.