Democrat and candidate for the 5th District House Representative Pos. 2 David Spring endorsed Republican Senate candidate Brad Toft, sending out a press release accusing Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire of bribing former 5th District Senator Cheryl Pflug to abandon her bid for reelection just after the filing deadline. You can read his press release detailing his charges on his website here.
Spring told Patch he didn't come to his decision lightly, and said it was the disdain his independent supporters have for both parties in light of the situation that forced him to take a stand.
"You don’t know how much this pains me. I wish there was some other way," Spring said, adding that he agrees with the Democrats on most issues and will "die a Democrat."
Pflug said the charges were ridiculous, adding that law school wasn't free and as a single parent she has long been working toward securing a higher paying position. Pflug dismissed Spring's claim that she accepted a $1 million bribe by accepting the position, noting that even after the six-year appointment, she won't have 20 years in state government that would qualify her for the retirement benefits Spring factors into his claim. Though she identifies as a moderate Republican, she said she had no qualms about bucking her party in supporting Referendum 74 or endorsing Democrat Mark Mullet for the seat.
"You have to represent your community by making an independent decision issue by issue," Pflug said.
"The bottom line is I applied for the job I needed thinking about how to finish my kids' education. (Detractors) are thinking of this as a gift, but I worked darn hard to be qualified for this position," she said.
Mullet's campaign said it's not concerned about the endorsement.
"David Spring is a perennial candidate that the voters have rejected time and again. When Mark decided to run for State Senate, he thought he was running against Cheryl Pflug," said John Wyble, a political consultant for the campaign.
