Women's group sits out Lowry-Sutherland race

The Washington State Women's Political Caucus has decided not to support either of the two candidates running for state commissioner of public lands, snubbing both Mike Lowry and Doug Sutherland.

The caucus - once a Lowry ally - announced yesterday its endorsements of three candidates running for other state offices in November's election, praising some for their abortion-rights stand and others for their fight against discrimination.

But Carroll Twiss, caucus co-chairwoman, declined to comment on Lowry and Sutherland, specifically on whether the sexual-harassment charges that helped drive Lowry from the governor's office four years ago played a part in the group's decision.

"I don't really want to get into the issues of this because it's like opening a Pandora's box," Twiss said. "We did not make any further endorsements after (state Sen.) Georgia Gardner. She really represented what we wanted to put forward."

Primary winners

Lowry, a former congressman as well as a former governor, defeated Gardner for the Democratic nomination in the September primary. Pierce County Executive Sutherland won the Republican nomination. In late August, Cathy Allen, vice president of the National Women's Political Caucus, suggested that Sutherland might be preferable to Lowry.

After one term as governor, Lowry decided not to seek re-election in 1996 after paying a press aide $97,000 to settle charges that he sexually harassed her. The scandal has put organizations that once rallied behind Lowry in an awkward position. Some, like the state Women's Political Caucus, kept mum on Lowry and his past.Sonntag endorsed

The caucus came out in favor of Democrat Brian Sonntag, who is running against Republican Richard McEntee for state auditor; Susan Owens, a Supreme Court candidate for position No. 2, and Marianne Scott Krizek, a Democrat who is challenging Republican incumbent Tom Campbell for the state House of Representatives seat in the 2nd District, which includes portions of Pierce and Thurston counties.

Twiss noted that Sonntag has made women's rights a priority and has long been outspoken on other civil-rights issues, including gay and lesbian rights. As Pierce County auditor, Sonntag drafted the county's comparable-worth policy, which addressed inequities in pay between men and women.

The organization endorsed Owens because of her experience as a judge and history working on domestic-violence issues. Owens, a district-court judge running against Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Sullivan, also has shown committment to stamping out discrimination, Twiss said. Owens helped draft the diversity policy for the Washington State District and Municipal Courts Association.

Twiss highlighted Krizek's abortion-rights position and lauded her as a candidate who would "help keep the freedoms we really care about."

Keiko Morris' phone message number is 425-745-7804. Her e-mail address is:kmorris@seattletimes.com