Val Stevens

Political sign vandalism is relatively commonplace, but usually in the kicked over sense and occasionally in the shot-by-a-bb-gun sense. Sign vandalism is often done by errant teenagers and ne'er-do-wells, and only on occasion is the instance overly malicious. But malive may be the intent in the 39th District, where a prominent road sign has been burned down.

Jerry Cornfield in the Everett Herald reports that state Sen. Val Stevens (R-Arlington) has filed a complaint about what she says is "malicious mischief" with the Skagit County Sheriff's Department.

State and local Republicans are trying to capitalize on the legal woes of Democratic state senate candidate Fred Walser (D-Sultan), who pled guilty two weeks ago to misdemeanor charges of withholding evidence. Walser maintains that that the entire incident was a misunderstanding, and told the Everett Herald's Jerry Cornfield that the sentencing was, "the worst day of my life."

Still, Walser is staying in the race to unseat state Sen. Val Stevens (R-Arlington), and the Republicans are using multimedia, Cornfield reports, to try to ensure that Walser's bad day lasts until November. The state Republican caucus has created a video modeled on the cable channel VH1's celebrity show, "Best Week Ever" to mock the week in which Walser pled guilty. Then on a grassroots level, 39th Legislative District resident Chris Nandor, better known in the blogosphere as "Pudge", wrote a song to coincide with the video.

Fred WalserThe Everett Herald is reporting that former Sultan police chief Fred Walser, who is running as a Democrat against state Senator Val Stevens in the 39th District, has pleaded guilty to providing false information to a public servant.

"I just wanted to get it over with and move on," Walser said. "I'm glad it's behind me."

Still, Walser has no intention of dropping out of the senate race.

Fred WalserBarely a week after Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington) was arrested on domestic violence charges, another Washington Democrat has been charged with a gross misdemeanor. This time, however, it is merely a candidate for state office and not an elected official.

The Everett Herald reports that state Senate candidate Fred Walser (D-Sultan) has been charged with providing false information to a public servant. The incident allegedly occurred when Walser was the Chief of Police in Sultan and relates to the possible suppression of evidence in a dispute between one of his officers and her neighbor. The full story of the case is here.