Adele Ferguson-Adele sticks to GOP Slade tale

“THIS IS DON Benton,” said the voice on the telephone.

I don’t know that I was expecting a call. State Sen. Don Benton of Vancouver was the subject of one of the two columns I sent out last week to the newspapers that buy them and I was far from supportive of his announcement he will run against U.S. Sen. Patty Murray this year.

State Democratic chair Dwight Pelz was quoted as saying Benton “may be the strongest candidate in the race so far,” considering the six others are unknowns without political experience. I questioned that, recalling the events of 2000 when U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton lost to...