COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES EMERGE FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE

Two candidates with apparently similar philosophies but dramatically
different life stories are seeking the GOP nomination for Cowlitz
County Commissioner.

At a meeting Monday with The Daily News' editorial board, two-term
incumbent Jeff Rasmussen described himself as a man in love with
"being able to dig into policy at the state level," but "not so much
with being a politician." Rasmussen, 38, served as a Young Republican
leader, a Olympia legislative aide and on the Longview City Council
before winning his current county seat in 1998.

Ken Spring, 65, used the same meeting to proclaim his independence
from outside interests --- including the party whose nomination he
seeks --- and to recall his many years as an unelected political
gadfly. His handful of unsuccessful campaigns for public office,
Springer said, have taught him that voters "don't like people to
speak up." But, he added, he planned to keep doing so, especially if
voters accept this bid.

"I think my time has come," Spring said.

During Spring's most recent race, for the Longview City Council in
2005, he apologized for calling a Democratic state senator a "fat
fag" in a profanity-laced voicemail message that was passed to The
Daily News two months before Election Day.

Spring said he sought psychological attention after that event.

"I went to an anger-management person and was evaluated, and it was
determined that I didn't have an anger problem," Spring said.
"Everybody flies off the handle." Rasmussen did not comment on
Spring's past campaigns.

On policy matters, the two found little to disagree over during the
hour-long discussion, though Rasmussen reiterated his dislike of the
county's state-funded needle exchange service and Spring said he
would not interfere with the program unless faced with strong public
opposition.

The program offers the public free, clean syringe needles in exchange
for used ones in an effort to prevent disease. Rasmussen said he will
not again seek to change or end the service as long as his two
co-commissioners continue to support giving the needles away.

Rasmussen touted his efforts to end or change the needle exchange as
a sign that he is willing to take politically unpopular stands. He
also said his skepticism about the program has improved it.

"Our needle program is very successful, if you look at its goals,"
Rasmussen said, "in part because of my questions."

Spring offered no criticism of Rasmussen, calling the incumbent a
"good role model" and saying the county is "fairly prudent" with its money.

"I think I could be more prudent," Spring added.

Spring said he supports term limits for politicians and would serve
no more than two terms if elected.

Rasmussen said that, if re-elected, he would seek to increase public
access to the commission by holding evening town-hall meetings every
month or two.

The two agreed that public safety should be the county's top
priority. Both said they would support a new referendum that would
raise sales taxes to pay for anti-meth enforcement. If he loses the
Republican nomination, Springer said he would endorse Rasmussen over
any of their three Democratic opponents.

Rasmussen declined to promise the same, saying he would need to see
who the Democrat candidate would be.