Chief
07-15-2008, 06:32 AM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07152008_Candidates-claims-called-inaccurate.cfm
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer
The chairwoman of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee is challenging the accuracy of statistics and biographical information put out by Joseph James, a Republican House candidate for the 17th Legislative District.
In a flyer laying out his campaign positions, James states: “Only 3 percent of us use mass transit, yet over 90 percent of transportation funds go toward mass transit. It’s obvious that the priorities be shifted to improving the many roads and highways that need to be upgraded and expanded. This is the quickest and least expensive way to achieve the traffic congestion relief we all seek.”
County Democratic Chairwoman Dena Horton said she was incredulous when she read those numbers. “Can you imagine what our transportation system would look like if over 90 percent of the funds were put into mass transit?” she asked. “Where did he get those figures? The literature piece does not quote a report or study to show from where these numbers are derived. … Not only is it factually inaccurate, it only seems to perpetuate a climate of anger around transportation issues when there are many stakeholders involved in trying to constructively work toward solutions.”
James didn’t have a ready answer.
“My consultant, Doug Simpson, is the one that helped me write that,” he said Monday. “I just took his word for it. He’s an expert, the consultant for (state Sen.) Don Benton as well. He’s been doing it for about 20 years and I assumed he was on top of it. “
Simpson said the 90 percent figure was in error but that he “was willing to wager” that more than 50 percent of state and local transportation dollars in Clark County went to support mass transit.
“I’m not sure what it is down there,” he added.
Horton also pointed out that the “businessman of the year” award James touts in his campaign biography is an award conferred by the National Republican Congressional Committee for campaign contributions.
According to an ABC News investigation, the committee has given such “awards” to at least 1,900 GOP donors. Political watchdogs have derided the “awards” as a telemarketing scam.
“I’ve donated money to them, definitely, and I received the award in the mail,” James said. “I don’t believe it was an exchange. I donated the money and they sent the award.”
James, who owns a dog boarding business, said he donated $2,500 in 2006, the year he was named by the campaign committee as one of Washington’s “businessmen of the year.”
James is in a three-way race with incumbent state Rep. Jim Dunn, a Republican, and Democrat Tim Probst, chief executive officer of the Washington Workforce Association, a nonprofit organization that works to promote job creation, economic growth and high school dropout prevention.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer
The chairwoman of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee is challenging the accuracy of statistics and biographical information put out by Joseph James, a Republican House candidate for the 17th Legislative District.
In a flyer laying out his campaign positions, James states: “Only 3 percent of us use mass transit, yet over 90 percent of transportation funds go toward mass transit. It’s obvious that the priorities be shifted to improving the many roads and highways that need to be upgraded and expanded. This is the quickest and least expensive way to achieve the traffic congestion relief we all seek.”
County Democratic Chairwoman Dena Horton said she was incredulous when she read those numbers. “Can you imagine what our transportation system would look like if over 90 percent of the funds were put into mass transit?” she asked. “Where did he get those figures? The literature piece does not quote a report or study to show from where these numbers are derived. … Not only is it factually inaccurate, it only seems to perpetuate a climate of anger around transportation issues when there are many stakeholders involved in trying to constructively work toward solutions.”
James didn’t have a ready answer.
“My consultant, Doug Simpson, is the one that helped me write that,” he said Monday. “I just took his word for it. He’s an expert, the consultant for (state Sen.) Don Benton as well. He’s been doing it for about 20 years and I assumed he was on top of it. “
Simpson said the 90 percent figure was in error but that he “was willing to wager” that more than 50 percent of state and local transportation dollars in Clark County went to support mass transit.
“I’m not sure what it is down there,” he added.
Horton also pointed out that the “businessman of the year” award James touts in his campaign biography is an award conferred by the National Republican Congressional Committee for campaign contributions.
According to an ABC News investigation, the committee has given such “awards” to at least 1,900 GOP donors. Political watchdogs have derided the “awards” as a telemarketing scam.
“I’ve donated money to them, definitely, and I received the award in the mail,” James said. “I don’t believe it was an exchange. I donated the money and they sent the award.”
James, who owns a dog boarding business, said he donated $2,500 in 2006, the year he was named by the campaign committee as one of Washington’s “businessmen of the year.”
James is in a three-way race with incumbent state Rep. Jim Dunn, a Republican, and Democrat Tim Probst, chief executive officer of the Washington Workforce Association, a nonprofit organization that works to promote job creation, economic growth and high school dropout prevention.