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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>From this morning's Lewiston Morning Tribune:</FONT></DIV>
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<H2 minmax_bound="true">Growth issue takes over forum</H2>
<P minmax_bound="true"><STRONG>Incumbents defend stance on Moscow's
growth</STRONG></P>
<P class=byline minmax_bound="true">By David Johnson of the Tribune</P>
<P class=date minmax_bound="true">Wednesday, October 24, 2007</P>
<P minmax_bound="true"></P>
<P minmax_bound="true">MOSCOW - The seven candidates for four council seats
weighed in Tuesday night on what many consider a central issue leading up to the
Nov. 6 election - that the current city council is inhibiting economic
growth.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">Speaking at a candidates forum to an audience of about
120 people, all three incumbents dismissed the notion, while three challengers
said the claim had a measure of merit. Another challenger said the anti-growth
perception really didn't matter because the economy continues to grow.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"Moscow is not anti-growth or no growth," Aaron Ament
said. "It's unfortunate that some among us keep saying that because it does hurt
our community."</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"I don't believe that the Moscow city council is
anti-growth," Tom Lamar said, "and I actually think it's irresponsible to accuse
the city that way."</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"I think what you need to do is take a look at what this
council has done," Linda Pall said. "This council has embraced the new cities
initiative. ... We're not here to say, 'You all come.' We're here to say, 'Come
take a look at Moscow, and if the fit is right, if your business and our values
match up, we are happy to have you.' "</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">Ament, Lamar and Pall are incumbents running for the
three four-year seats. All have been endorsed by the Moscow Civic
Association.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"I don't necessarily feel the current council is
no-growth or anti-growth," Wayne Krauss said. "I think they're (practicing)
selective growth. They decide what kind of growth they want to allow."</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"The current council says they're not anti-growth," Dan
Carscallen said, "but the perception is there. Changing the perception is the
thing that needs to happen."</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">"Moscow has been perceived as anti-business and
anti-growth long before this particular city council," Walter Steed said. "I'm
not sure why. I don't think we've done anything lately to change it or make
ourselves look like we do welcome businesses."</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">Krauss and Carscallen are challenging for the four-year
positions. Steed is seeking a two-year seat. All three are endorsed by the
Greater Moscow Alliance.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">Challenger Evan Holmes, who's running against Steed and
isn't endorsed by either of the politically active citizens groups, took more of
a middle-ground stance. "Well, if the city council for the last five years has
been trying to stop growth they've failed miserably." He cited statistics
showing that the town's economy continues to grow. "So like I say, the no-growth
thing doesn't bear analysis," Holmes said.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">The campaign continues to be fueled by the MCA and GMA,
the former being credited with supporting winning candidates in the previous
election and the latter organized last year in response. Mayor Nancy Chaney was
endorsed two years ago by the left-leaning MCA, and her opponent, former council
member Peg Hamlett, said afterwards that the MCA's campaign efforts were too
much to surmount. The right-leaning GMA figures to lend some balance to the
campaign. Both groups are encouraging a big turnout at the polls.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">The candidates seem to have tapped into the momentum.
Most have active Web sites, all are placing signs around town, most say they're
going door-to-door to talk with people and the invitations to speak at forums
and do interviews with the press continue to take up their time.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">Tuesday night's forum, held in the Moscow High School
Auditorium, was cosponsored by the Moscow League of Women Voters and the
Moscow/Pullman Daily News.</P>
<P minmax_bound="true">---</P>
<P minmax_bound="true"><EM minmax_bound="true">Johnson may be contacted at
deveryone@potlatch.com or (208)
883-0564.</EM></P></FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>