Local News

Good morning.

Big weekend for gay marriage in Washington state. So, what do voters across the country think about gay marriage? A new poll reported in Politico says a plurality — not a majority – of Americans favor gay marriage. The Times’ Carol Ostrom reported Saturday about people in our state who voted against both gay marriage and marijuana legalization. The U.S. Supreme Court will take up gay marriage, two cases.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue,
not Tacoma

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith stays put on armed services: The News Tribune of Tacoma has an interesting piece on Adam Smith, formerly of Tacoma, who has recently moved to Bellevue. The point is Smith may have moved out of the Tacoma area and away from close proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but his interests are still with armed services. Smith is staying on as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee in the upcoming Congress. Smith, by the by, moved closer to the center of the newly-drawn 9th Congressional District.

Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker

Booker on the move: Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker is making plans. Or thinking about a move up in politics, anyway. Booker, one of the rising stars in Democratic politics, is pondering a run next year against popular New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Wouldn’t that be a fun race? Christie, a Republican, aggravated members of his own party for the hug heard round the world during the presidential race. (You might remember Christie embraced and praised President Obama in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.)

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith has served eight terms in the 9th Congressional District, but last year’s redistricting drew two Democratic opponents who say he’s now too conservative for the new boundaries.

Two Republicans are running against him, too. But only one of his three opponents even lives in the new 9th District.

You don’t have to live inside a district’s boundaries to run for office, but candidates usually do.

Democrat David Christie, a LaRouche PAC Democrat,  lives in North Seattle, outside the boundaries of the 9th. He said he didn’t want to run against his congressman in the 7th, Jim McDermott.

Democrat Tom Cramer, who says he has worked on 48 campaigns for Congress, says he lives “100 feet” from the new district’s boundary, but would move to Newcastle if he wins. He lives in the 1st Congressional District, which is flooded with well-known candidates.

Republican perennial candidate Boleslaw  “John”  Orlinski lives in the 9th District. But the other Republican in the race, retired aeronautical engineer Jim Postma, does not.

The incumbent, Smith, lives in northeast Tacoma, well within the new boundaries.