Jobs or trees?

Mike Cooper: Candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands

He can ensure both on our state forests. 

Mike Cooper’s leadership is needed.  The 1997 “fire fighter of the year,” Mike has demonstrated that he can lead a team and act decisively. As a four-term State Representative, Democrat Mike Cooper has proven his ability to work with diverse interests to solve complex natural resource problems. 

Democrat Mike Cooper will place wind farms on state land to create jobs that are needed now and also electricity and revenue for schools, protect jobs in the future by not over cutting trees in the present, and ban the cutting of old-growth trees on state forests.

Do not be fooled by Mike’s opponent. Republican Doug Sutherland wants you to think that he is a moderate, but he is not.  The Republican supports large-scale clear cutting that threatens not only the forests, but also future jobs and revenue from state-owned timber lands.  This should be expected—he has received almost a half million dollars from the timber industry. 

Not authorized by any candidate.  Paid for by Eastern Washington Voters, 412 E. Main St., Pullman, WA

Dino Rossi’s Questionable Business Past (from 2004 and 2008)

Remember this when Dino Rossi ran for Governor in 2004 and 2008? Much of Dino Rossi’s business experience has been in real-estate working underneath one man, Melvin Heide of Capretto & Clark, convicted of defrauding investors.  Rossi made a small fortune, and some of it was indirectly at the expense of small investors who lost their life savings.  "The people who got hurt were little old ladies . . . Schoolteachers who put in their life savings,” said Stuart Looney, past vice president of Capretto & Clark (Seattle Times, 9/29/04). Are we accusing Republican Dino Rossi of illegality? No. Are we suggesting highly unethical business practices? Yes.  We can only outline the story.  You will need to do additional research before making your own decision.