| Cowlitz casino developer David Barnett is using his not-so-subtle political strategy in Snohomish County, Wash. -- and it is reminiscent of his past activity in Clark County.
According to today's Seattle Times, Barnett told Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers and an aide that "he was prepared to spend $2.5 million to unseat Somers if he continued his opposition to Barnett's proposed development."
Barnett wants to build up to 6,000 houses in a rural area there and, according to the Times, has been sending out mailings accusing Somers of "being against affordable homes and jobs, and for sprawl and global warming."
The Times article reports on some of Barnett's Clark County escapades, including the $100,000 that he, his then-wife and company donated to a political action committee in 2005. The PAC spent more than $86,000 on seven mailings against casino opponent Tom Mielke, who was running for Clark County commissioner. The mailings landed in mailboxes in the 15 days before the election, and Mielke lost the race to current Commissioner Steve Stuart with 48 percent of the vote.
In 2006, Barnett's threats against the chairwoman of the anti-casino group Stand Up for Clark County Citizens landed him a restraining order.
(Local stories are available in the archives of The Columbian (Feb. 22 and Feb. 25, 2006) and the Longview Daily News (Feb. 16 and 28, 2006).)
The Times writes that Somers and his aide reported Barnett's recent comment to the Snohomish County prosecutor, who is investigating whether Barnett was intimidating a public servant -- a Class B felony. |
