I just got this e-mail from Team McCain. Since the Pierce County field coordinator for McCain has a 425 prefix on her cell phone, I asked for a local phone number for those of you who still have 253 prefixes on your land lines. So, the campaign gave me Jane Milhans' number. She's chair of the McCain campaign in Pierce County. Her number is 253-279-4245.

Team McCain

In 26 days, Americans will elect our next president, and the choice we face is clear. John McCain brings a lifetime of service to our country, a deep and bi-partisan record of fighting for the American people, and the experience necessary to lead in times of domestic and international challenge.

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Contrary to what you may have heard, or what Tim Eyman tries to imply in his seemingly endless stream of e-mails to supporters and reporters, State Auditor Brian Sonntag is not endorsing Eyman's Initiative 985.

"I am not endorsing or opposing Initiative 985, or any initiative," Sonntag told me about 10 minutes ago.

I caught him driving to Vancouver for a speech.

Eyman has been portraying I-985 as largely an implementation of the performance audit that Sonntag's office did about a year or so back. So I asked Sonntag point blank: "Do you consider I-985 an implementation of your audit?"

His answer: "No."

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Michael Amato, who's formal title is "communications director" for Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, came by the press house at the state capital to introduce himself.

I guess I've been out of touch because I can't even remember who Adam's last press secretary was.

Smith is our go-to guy on terrorism issues. That is, if you get strip-searched by those minimum-wage security people the airports, Smith is the guy you'd call. Or if they take your laptop computer.

You can start with Amato. Phone: 202-225-8901, e-mail: michael.amato@mail.house.gov

Mike Reitz, lawyer for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, sent out an e-mail today, disputing the Secretary of State's assertion that "aggressive screening" has solved the problem of letting under-age teenagers register to vote.

Reitz even sent out a list of under-age voters as of Sept. 26.

Here is a link to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation blog that shows underage voters.

As today’s story about Master Builders Association funding of the county executive’s race illustrates, the builders group is a force to be reckoned with in Pierce County government. Some folks think it has too much influence.

I recently asked the four county executive candidates if they thought the building and real estate industry has too much influence on county government. Here’s what they said.

• Republican Shawn Bunney: “In my office as county executive, everyone will have equal and good access to any ear of the county executive.” You can listen to Bunney’s response here.

• Democrat Calvin Goings said there is too much influence by various interest groups on county government. He wants to improve the ethics legislation the county council approved earlier this year. You can listen to his full response here.

• Executive Excellence candidate Mike Lonergan said the building industry shouldn’t be faulted for trying to speed up projects and minimize their costs. The question, he said, is how elected and appointed officials respond to that pressure. You can listen to his full response here.

• Democrat Pat McCarthy said there are folks who want to pigeonhole developers as the Evil Empire and those who want to label environmental groups Nazis or wackos. McCarthy said that's not constructive. She said she wants everyone to have a seat at the table. You can listen to her full responses here.

This week, Goings portrayed Master Builders Association spending on behalf of McCarthy as an attempt to buy the election. McCarthy said it's an attempt by Goings to divert attention from questions about his resume. You can read more bout Goings work experience here.