Liberty Lake News

Republicans sweep local races

11/3/2004

By Josh Johnson

State Rep. Larry Crouse returned home by 10 p.m. Tuesday to study the screens on his television and computer.

His victory over Liberty Lake resident and Democratic challenger Jim Peck all but assured, he was checking on the fate of his fellow legislators and particularly keeping an eye on "dear friend" and U.S. representative candidate Cathy McMorris.

He liked what he saw.

McMorris won the race to replace George Nethercutt in Washington’s fifth congressional district over Democrat Don Barbieri. Crouse and his fellow Republicans currently representing the fourth legislative district, State Rep. Lynn Schindler and State Sen. Bob McCaslin, also gained victory.

"The people of the Fourth District have been so gracious to keep us in office," Crouse said. "We really do try to represent the people in our district, and it’s really quite easy because people are rather conservative over here. So we can really be ourselves."

Crouse singled out Peck and McCaslin’s opponent, Tim Hattenburg, as "a couple of the best opposition candidates I have seen." He praised Peck and Hattenburg for running clean, positive and strong campaigns.

Peck was attending a watch party and was not available for comment Tuesday night, wife Joy Peck said when reached on the couple’s cell phone.

In the races for the two open spots for Spokane County commissioner, Republicans Todd Mielke and Mark Richard notched close victories over Democrats Linda Wolverton and Bill Burke, respectively, according to unofficial results.