DESPITE REPEATED DEMANDS to remove their false television commercial that claims Roger Goodman’s DUI legislation has cost the state millions of dollars, Joel Hussey supporters have only compounded their lies. Now, a Robo-Call is tying up our community’s telephone lines with the falsely based attack on Roger Goodman’s DUI legislation record. Don’t believe the Robo-Call.
Although the message does not identify its source of funding – a violation of election law – its content echoes statements previously made by Joel Hussey (Roger Goodman’s Republican challenger). The call dishonestly claims that Goodman has softened DUI penalties and has threatened Washington State’s federal highway funding as a result.
But the truth is Goodman is a stalwart for strengthening our DUI laws. His legislation, which has kept repeat drunk drivers off our roads, is hailed by law enforcement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) treats his legislation as a national model for combating drunk driving.
Goodman was even named Legislator of the Year by MADD and was named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the Washington Association of Substance and Violence Prevention. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission even reported a 36 percent decline recently in alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries, which can be attributed in large part to Goodman’s work. (On a related demonstration of Goodman's suitability as our Representative, to help balance the budget, Goodman voluntarily cut his own legislative pay.)
Despite calls to end his campaign’s lies, Hussey refuses to step up and condemn the attacks. During a recent Rotary Club Candidate Forum, Hussey even half-heartedly defended the lies. This is an old campaign tactic that Hussey supporters are making use of: attack your opponent’s strengths. Well, Goodman’s record on strengthening our DUI laws is exactly that: a tremendous strength of our good legislator’s.
Who knows what the Hussey's campaign has in store next. But given their track record, we can be sure that whatever it is, it can't be believed.
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TRENT LATTA is an attorney and resident of Kirkland. He can be contacted by email at TrentLatta@gmail.com.
