Another nail in Russell's political coffin: Vancouver Business Journal names Rivers "Republican front runner."

So, in addition to Russell's veracity and integrity problems, the Vancouver Business Journal has named Ann Rivers as the "Republican front runner."

From this article:

New names, new faces
Candidates look to join SW Washington's state legislative delegation

BY PAUL LEONARD of the VBJ

July 9th, 2010

With the primary campaign season just beginning, only one thing seems certain: whatever the outcome, in at least two key state races, Southwest Washington's legislative delegation in Olympia will get some new blood.

....

In the contest to replace Herrera, who is currently making a run for Congress in the Third Congressional District, Republican front runner and small business owner Ann Rivers hopes to make it through a broad field of GOP candidates to face the Democrat, Clark County Skills Center director Dennis Kampe.

"We've been down this road for six months," Rivers said. "It's almost like giving birth."

The owner of a public and government relations company since 1996, Rivers has based her campaign largely on business issues, advocating against what she called "onerous" regulations and taxes - in particular, the state's controversial Business and Occupancy levy on gross receipts.

"I'm fighting this idea that government can squeeze and squeeze businesses until they can't take it anymore," she said.

As in the race to fill Wallace's seat, the 18th Legislative District contest was overshadowed by a yawning state budget deficit and a persistently-high unemployment rate in many communities throughout Southwest Washington.

Kampe, the only Democrat appearing on this year's ballot in the district, told the VBJ last month he first considered running for the seat because of concerns about education. A fiscal conservative, Kampe looks to attract independent voters in this traditionally GOP-friendly district.

"I think Dennis is a pretty conservative guy," Probst said. "He's always described himself as a ‘Republicrat.'"

As of VBJ's press time, Rivers led with over $42,000 raised thus far, followed by Kampe with $16,495, according to PDC figures.

Rounding out the Republican field in the 18th District, Position 1, is Russell, Brandon Vick and Anthony Bittner, as well as independent candidates Jon Haugen and Richard Carson.

With turnout in Clark County expected to hit 35 percent, according to Clark County Elections supervisor Tim Likness, the election may hinge on who gets out more of their supporters to return their ballots, which will be mailed out July 28.

"It really comes down to how much effort the candidates put into it," Likness said.

Well, Rivers is, of course, the front runner and has been since she announced.

.

(Note to Probst: Kampe is no conservative. No one who actually believes we should indebt the people of Clark County $100,000,000 a year to build a bridge to give his union buddies temporary jobs at out expense is a conservative. You can call Moeller a "moderate" all you like, and that doesn't make it so... to put a point on it, "Republicrat" my ass.)

Nevertheless, when a publication like the VBJ uses a label like that, it's got to hurt the more delusional of candidates.

Right?

Cross posted to Clark County Politics.