Candidates questioned at Bill Mize forum

Grassroots event attendees seem more partisan

SAM TAYLOR

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State Rep. Kelli Linville is a bit nostalgic. For her, the Bill Mize Political Forum just ain’t what it used to be.

“It used to be a broad spectrum of people interested in the candidates,” she said. “Since 1990 or so the crowd has gotten smaller and it appears to be basically supporters of candidates, members of the grange and maybe a few interested people.”

And so it went during the 44th annual Bill Mize forum, where 12 candidates for local, state and federal office stepped up to a microphone to pitch themselves to the room of about 70 people and those listening at home by radio broadcast.

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They stumped on issues from the WASL — nearly everyone called for reform — to alternative forms of transportation or expanding roads to the environment.

And what would the evening be without knitting in the audience, a few catcalls, some cheers and some jeers. Don’t forget the resounding gong of the Kiwanis bell when candidates flapped their gums just a bit too much and audience members waxed a bit too philosophic before getting to their question.

But, Linville and others noted, the event appeared to be fairly partisan, a bit different from the days when Mize, a member of the Kiwanis Club, started trying to bring “city folk” and rural county residents together in 1963.

Supporters of Republican state Senate candidate Steve Van Luven tossed him a few softballs about his own politics and took a few shots at the Democrats he’s running against in the 40th Legislative District. A supporter of Democrat Kevin Ranker also questioned the campaign contributions of fellow Democrat Ken Henderson, who has a bunch of money from optometrists outside of the county.

Ranker said he realized the crowd was quite partisan, with the majority of the group conservative — the Whatcom County Republicans sent out a reminder e-mail about the event — but still said it was positive and he enjoyed it.

“It’s always good when it’s on the radio, even if it’s just a glimpse of each candidate,” he said. “I don’t want to minimize it. There could have been more people at the forum. It could have been more diverse.”