The ballots have arrived here in Whitman County. All this week, I will be giving the official Red County Whitman County (WA) endorsements for the various races that appear on those ballots (contested only.)  Today, we start with Governor of Washintgton.

Much like the Tri-City Herald, this endorsement is based on what is best for Pullman and Whitman County.  The last four years of the Gregoire administration have been a unmitigated disaster for Pullman and Whitman County; another four years would amount to an apocalypse.  Let's take a look at the specific issues:

Gas Tax Hike: In 2005, Gregoire signed into law a 9 1/2 cent gas tax designed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle.  Thus far, nothing has been done on the Viaduct and Whitman County residents have not seen a nickel in return on this tax as our roads crumble.

Estate Tax: Also in 2005, Gregoire reinstituted the death tax on estates worth over $2 million.  This tax is actually death to entrepreneurs and family-owned small businesses  in Washington, and threatens to drive future expansion of Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Whitman County's biggest private employer, out of the state.

Phase II NPDES Permitting:  On Gregoire's watch, the Department of Ecology refused to heed concerns from our elected officials and went ahead and imposed strict new stormwater runoff requirements on Pullman, even though it was a "bubble" city and has, as Ecology admits, a unique topography and geology.  These measures will stifle development and drive business out of the city.

Unfriendly Business Climate:  Washington's minimum wage is the highest in the country. Our gas tax is the highest in the country.  We are one of the only states in the county with B&O taxes on all gross receipts.  L&I regulations are very restrictive.  In this state, employers average $854 per worker in weekly unemployment insurance taxes compared with a national average of $228.  All these things disprortionately affect small business, which is the lifeblood of our small communities.  Despite lobbying from business organizations, Gregoire has provided no help and actually made things worse with even more bureaucracy and taxes.  And stand by for "play or pay" health insurance, mandatory two-week paid sick leave, and mandatory paid family leave legislation if Gregoire gets her way, and probably a state income tax as well.

Budget Deficit:  Once, as Attorney General, Gregoire stood up to the tobacco companies.  After her razor-thin win in 2004, however, she seems to have lost her nerve and now meekly kow-tows to environmentalists, teachers, and labor unions.  As a result, she has spent taxpayer's money like a drunken sailor, running up a huge $3.2 billion budget deficit that likely will be $5 billion by the time the next legislative session has to address it.  Washington State University has already had to cut $6 million to address this deficit, and likely will be required to cut much more in the weeks, months, and years to come.  This will have a huge impact on the economy of Whitman County, especially as the nation slips into a recession/despression.

Property Rights:  When she weighed in against I-933, the Property Fairness Initiative, in 2006 , Gregoire promised relief to farmers and land owners from the deliterious effects of the Growth Management Act and Critical Areas Ordinances.  Thus far, she has not delivered on that promise.  Agriculture is a major industry in Whitman County and Gregoire continues to thumb her nose at farmers so as to not offend the Green lobby.

Dino Rossi will be the governor of ALL of Washington, not just Puget Sound special interests.  He promises to shake up Olympia with hundreds of new appointments and to bring fiscal sanity to state government.  Dino, most importantly will be a leader on the tough issues, and God knows that is what we need right now in this state.

Tomorrow: Initiatives and other statewide races.