John Serben

In Spokane's 6th Legislative District, where Republicans are intent on recapturing Rep. Don Barlow's position 1 seat, which he won by a mere 260 votes in 2006 after narrowly losing to former Rep. John Serben in 2004, the heat is rising as the August 19 "top two" primary rapidly approaches. The Spokesman-Review's Richard Roesler reports on the race today, notably the online bickering between the two Republican opponents, Mel Lindauer and Kevin Parker, and their supporters.

Some of the key issues the two are battling are local ties, with Lindauer hitting Parker over time spent in the district, and money sources, with Parker highlighting Lindauer's heavily out of district fundraising. Right now both candidates have about $20,000 in the bank, and three weeks to differentiate themselves among Spokane Republicans as the best opponent for Rep. Barlow.