Constantine Challenges Hutchison Again

Yesterday, King County Exec candidate Dow Constantine called out King County Exec candidate Susan Hutchison, basically labeling her a conservative Republican in mute's clothing and challenging her to a duel at the Seattle Public Library. (I don't believe the SPL's new rules address duels.) Hutchison responded in an interview with the P-I, calling Constantine a liar and saying that "she doesn't have to say anything to voters" to prove that she's a moderate.

Today, Constantine sent out a rejoinder to her rejoinder:

The other candidates and I attend a wide variety of public forums where we again answer to interested members of the public on a wide variety of topics, not just those we feel like talking about....I answer questions on these topics all the time - from constituents, voters and the press. All of the other candidates do so as well - except Susan Hutchison.

Slightly awkward timing for Constantine, though, as he had to duck out of today's public safety-themed candidate forum after fifteen minutes to attend to County business. Still, Constantine has been attending the forums (from which Hutchison has been regularly absent), and SW's Laura Onstot reports that Hutchison refused to answer some questions from reporters after today's forum, promising that she'll let voters know more with her official campaign launch next week. She also said that she won't attend another candidate forum until the end of the month, which confirms that she won't be at tonight's Futurewise-sponsored discussion on growth management. Onstot will have a more detailed report later today.

Full text of the Constantine release after the jump.

Constantine to Responds to Hutchison's Claim to Seattlepi.com that "I don't have to say anything to the voters"

Seattle (June 11) - King County Council Chair Dow Constantine, one of the leading candidates for King County Executive, today issued the following statement in response to Susan Hutchison's continuing refusal to answer key questions about where she stands on the issues, or to come clean with the press and public about her conservative Republican beliefs and affiliations. Yesterday, Constantine held a press conference where he called on the former KIRO anchor, who is leading in the most recent poll, to end her stealth campaign and level with voters about her conservative Republican political
views.

Instead, late yesterday afternoon in a revealing interview with the SeattlePI.com, Hutchison called Constantine a liar for pointing out that Hutchison is a conservative Republican - but then refused to offer any specifics to refute Constantine's statement. As the P-I further reported, "Hutchison was asked what she would say to the voters to demonstrate that she is a moderate. 'I don't have to say anything to the voters,' said Hutchison, a long-time local television personality."

Today Constantine issued the following statement in response:

"In light of Susan Hutchison's response yesterday, I want to reiterate that I stand by what I said. I'd like to remind Susan that we live in a democracy. All of us who seek elected office, no matter how well known we were in our previous careers, have an obligation to be open and accessible with the voters about where we stand on important issues.

"All of the major candidates in the race seem to understand that - except Susan Hutchison. The other candidates and I routinely give specific and detailed answers to questions from the press on all sorts of different topics, many of them controversial or politically charged - except for Susan Hutchison. The other candidates and I attend a wide variety of public forums where we again answer to interested members of the public on a wide variety of topics, not just those we feel like talking about - except for Susan Hutchison.

"Susan Hutchison's stealth approach to this campaign is just not right.

"As elected officials, we answer to the public, and it is a key test of our fitness for office that we do so honestly and without reservation.

"I'll say it again: Susan Hutchison needs to come clean with the voters about her views. This is particularly important given that she has never held elective office and has no paper trail based on a record of public service. I have always believed that voters need to get as clear a sense as possible of who candidates are as people, how they think, and what they believe, so they can make informed choices at the ballot box. They deserve no less. That is even more critical now that polls indicate that Hutchison could win this race despite a very limited schedule of public appearances or press interviews.

"People know where I stand on important issues like equal rights for everyone, including marriage equality for gay and lesbian citizens, protecting women's reproductive health, expanding transit, protecting Puget Sound and protecting our air and water. I answer questions on these topics all the time - from constituents, voters and the press. All of the other candidates do so as well - except Susan Hutchison.

"Yes, Susan Hutchison agreed to appear today at a forum focused on public safety. But today she also skipped yet another public forum on environmental issues. It is not enough to pick and choose only those public settings where you know there is little chance you will be asked uncomfortable questions about your views and beliefs. All of the other candidates in the race have been making a good faith effort to attend as wide a variety of public events as possible, and to make themselves available to answer a wide variety of questions.

"In the final analysis, on election day, it is the voters, not the candidates, who have the final say. They get to decide what is important. All the candidates in the race understand that — except, apparently, Susan Hutchison."