It has been the desire of the Democrats in Washington State to oust very effective 4-term State Senator, Don Benton, a Republican serving in the 17th Legislative District. In fact, he has been their target for several years and with the willing assistance of the Columbian, the local ‘newspaper’ that is actually more like the unofficial daily newsletter for the Democrat Party, Democrats feel the time is ripe to accomplish their goal.
They have pinned their hopes on 17th Legislative District Representative, Tim Probst, who by all appearances has been very carefully groomed by party leaders to something he is not to appeal to the conservative voters in the 17th District.
Probst, who will be leaving his 2nd term in the legislature, has been very coy ever since first winning the seat in 2008. He makes the claim, “Tim has fought spending, debt, and taxes for years.”
By all outward appearance, his voting record reflects his claim. But, I must ask if he really does stand against his party’s policies as he claims, why do they so strongly support him in his campaign and not treat him as they did Senators Tim Sheldon, Jim Kastama and Rodney Tom when they sided with Republicans earlier this year in what was called “The “9th Order” maneuver on the budget?