| The Washington State Supreme Court is at risk. Follow the money trail because here are the facts. The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) failed miserably in its attempts to buy the Governor’s mansion and both chambers of the state legislature and now has its sights set on our Supreme Court.
In 2004, BIAW bought a seat on the high court for its stooge, Jim Johnson, with hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into that campaign. Wetted with a new found appetite, these right wing demagogues have thrown the bulk of $300,000 to their newest handpicked puppet, John Groen, in an attempt to oust Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, our nationally esteemed and eminently qualified jurist.
It is notable that Chief Justice Alexander was the pioneer advocate of contribution spending limits for judicial candidates. Specifically, a cap of $1400 per individual each for the primary and general elections. He has abided by his pledge. Unfortunately, Groen has not done likewise and has taken the low road. Groen has thumbed his nose at the legislative cutoff deadline by actively summoning his cronies to cut checks that are now deemed illegal by our law. Groen received $25,000 from numerous individual contributors.
It is a sad commentary when our Temple of Justice has a “For Sale” sign on its entranceway. Hopefully, our citizenry will see through the Purchase and Sale Agreement proposed by BIAW and we will not see a “Sold” sign at the Temple of Justice on November 7th.
Alan Martin
Olympia |
